Zayn Malik defends Gigi Hadid after she is accused of ‘mocking Asians’

Hadid was seen squinting as she held up a Buddha cookie and appeared to impersonate the face 
Emma Powell7 February 2017
The Weekender

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Zayn Malik has defended his girlfriend Gigi Hadid after she was accused of ‘mocking Asians’ on social media.

Hadid, 21, was seen squinting her eyes as she held up a Buddha cookie and appeared to impersonate the face in an Instagram story posted by her sister Bella Hadid.

The video, which has since been removed, was met with a backlash online and saw Gigi faced with allegations of racism.

One user questioned how she can ‘make fun’ of Asians when her boyfriend is of Pakistani descent.

Loved up: Zayn Malik with Gigi Hadid at the Met Gala
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

“@zaynmalik being of Asian descent, how do you feel about your girlfriend making fun of Asian people?,” they tweeted.

Clearly unfazed by her actions he joked: “Trust me.. she likes asians ;).”

Gigi was faced with a barrage of criticism online with one user posting: “Gigi mocking Asians is offensive af. I've been laughed at for having small eyes when I was a kid just like she mocked the Asian features.”

A second wrote: “This is y'all woke Palestine queen? Gigi out here mocking Asian people. I would say she's cancelled but she never started. Rat (sic).”

It comes months after she apologised for impersonating Melania Trump at the American Music Awards.

The Victoria’s Secret model was criticised after she mocked Mrs Trump’s controversial plagiarised speech while adopting a fake Slovenian accent.

She wrote: “I too have been at the centre of a nationally televised comedy skit that poked fun at my actions, and was able to find the humour in it. I believe Melania understands show business and the way shows are written and run.”

“I apologise to anyone that I offended and only have the best wishes for our country.”

American Music Awards 2016 - In pictures

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