'Trust me... she likes Asians': Half-Pakistani singer Zayn Malik defends girlfriend Gigi Hadid after social media users labeled her a 'racist' after she was filmed impersonating the Buddha
- A video posted by Bella Hadid shows her 21-year-old sister at a restaurant with friends, who are singing Happy Birthday to someone
- Gigi holds up a cookie that is shaped like the Buddha and squints her eyes in an imitation of his face
- Twitter users have called the video racist, and pointed out that they are 'not surprised' and this isn't the first time she has faced accusations of racism
- Zayn assured followers that his girlfriend 'likes Asians', but fans aren't convinced
Zayn Malik has defended his girlfriend Gigi Hadid after the supermodel was accused of being racist on social media this week.
Gigi's sister, Bella, shared a video of the famous blonde squinting her eyes to imitate the Buddah, which several people charged was racially insensitive. Bella quickly took the video down, but not before it popped up elsewhere.
Now Zayn has rushed to his lady's defense — but not everyone is convinced by his argument.
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![That's my girl! Zayn Malik came out in defense of his girlfriend Gigi Hadid today](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207190703/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/07/16/3CE976C100000578-0-image-a-2_1486485099087.jpg)
That's my girl! Zayn Malik came out in defense of his girlfriend Gigi Hadid today
![He assured fans that she 'likes Asian's after people accused her of being racist](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207190703/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/07/16/3CEDCE7900000578-0-image-a-3_1486485485238.jpg)
He assured fans that she 'likes Asian's after people accused her of being racist
![Uh-oh: A video showing Gigi imitating the narrow eyes of the Buddha (in cookie form) angered fans](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207190703/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/06/17/3CE7151F00000578-4196930-image-a-2_1486403749230.jpg)
Uh-oh: A video showing Gigi imitating the narrow eyes of the Buddha (in cookie form) angered fans
![Don't do that, girl... In the short clip, Gigi holds the cookie up to her face and then smiles and squints her eyes](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207190703/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/06/18/3CE7151B00000578-4196930-image-m-16_1486404671092.jpg)
Don't do that, girl... In the short clip, Gigi holds the cookie up to her face and then smiles and squints her eyes
![Guilty conscience? Bella Hadid, Gigi's sister, shared the video but quickly took it down when people got angry](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207190703/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/06/18/3CE7152300000578-4196930-image-m-17_1486404684074.jpg)
Guilty conscience? Bella Hadid, Gigi's sister, shared the video but quickly took it down when people got angry
The very short clips features Gigi and friends at a restaurant, where several are singing Happy Birthday. Gigi holds up a cookie in the shape of the Buddah, then smiles and squints her eyes to imitate his face.
'This is y'all woke palestine queen? Gigi out here mocking Asian people. i would say she's cancelled but she never started [sic],' wrote one poster.
Other people shared similar comments, with one saying: 'smh she's been cancelled. She's made fun of Asian people, and done so many racist things but nobody pays attention.'
One person even tweeted directly at Zayn, writing: 'Being of Asian descent, how do you feel about your girlfriend making fun of Asian people?'
Zayn responded minutes later, assuring him, 'trust me.. she likes asians [sic],' and adding a winking smiley face.
![Some pointed out that this wasn't the first time that the model has been embroiled in a scandal about racial insensitivity](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207190703/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/06/17/3CE7152700000578-4196930-image-a-4_1486403764057.jpg)
Some pointed out that this wasn't the first time that the model has been embroiled in a scandal about racial insensitivity
![In agreement: In one poll on Facebook, over 50,000 fans called the squinting 'racist AF'](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207190703/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/06/18/3CE7153B00000578-4196930-image-m-19_1486404993882.jpg)
In agreement: In one poll on Facebook, over 50,000 fans called the squinting 'racist AF'
![Not such a great point: Several pointed out that Gigi is dating an Asian man (Zayn Malik), though Gigi is also half Middle Eastern](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207190703/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/06/18/3CE7152F00000578-4196930-image-a-21_1486405015389.jpg)
Not such a great point: Several pointed out that Gigi is dating an Asian man (Zayn Malik), though Gigi is also half Middle Eastern
![Many have expressed anger and exasperation at her actions](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207190703/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/06/18/3CE7153300000578-4196930-image-m-23_1486405021074.jpg)
Many have expressed anger and exasperation at her actions
![Responding: Fans and non-fans alike have been unhappy with the clip](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207190703/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/06/18/3CE7153700000578-4196930-image-a-27_1486405093783.jpg)
Responding: Fans and non-fans alike have been unhappy with the clip
Zayn's father is British Pakistani, meaning he is of Asian descent. Gigi's father — Palestinian-American developed Mohammad Hadid — is also Middle Eastern.
Despite his protests, though, fans didn't seem swayed. One wrote along Twitter rant accusing Zayn of being ignorant as well.
'You seriously need to educate yourself for the sake of your career and your social standing. You can't get away with this s***,' she wrote. 'I'm telling you this for your own sake bc it's 2017 and a time of peril for a lot of people and you can't afford to be ignorant.
'It is the least of your obligations as a MUSLIM to be educated and socially aware so it's about time you take that role Zayn.'
As some have said, it doesn't matter if the intention to be racist isn't there — the ignorance that something is racist can alone be part of a racist act.
![Going back: Fans were similarly upset with this cover of Vogue Italia, in which Gigi sported an Afro](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207190703/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/06/18/3CE7153F00000578-4196930-image-m-28_1486405096487.jpg)
Going back: Fans were similarly upset with this cover of Vogue Italia, in which Gigi sported an Afro
![There were also cries of cultural appropriation when she wore dreadlocks during a Marc Jacobs runway show last year, though all the models wore them](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207190703/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/07/16/3CE7151300000578-0-There_were_also_cries_of_cultural_appropriation_when_she_wore_dr-a-1_1486484879826.jpg)
There were also cries of cultural appropriation when she wore dreadlocks during a Marc Jacobs runway show last year, though all the models wore them
![In 2015, she braced herself for backlash when she shared this picture of henna tattoos](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207190703/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/06/18/3CE7151700000578-4196930-image-m-29_1486405115052.jpg)
In 2015, she braced herself for backlash when she shared this picture of henna tattoos
![She pointed out that she was appropriating a culture because it is actually her culture — she is half Palestinian](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207190703/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/06/18/3CE7151700000578-4196930-image-a-31_1486405141165.jpg)
She pointed out that she was appropriating a culture because it is actually her culture — she is half Palestinian
The claims of past 'racist' behavior seem to be referring to the time Gigi was accused of cultural appropriation while modeling.
In 2016, she wore colorful dreadlocks to walk in Marc Jacobs' runway show — a choice that was not hers, but the designers. She also once modeled a blue Afro on the cover of Vogue Italia.
In 2015, Instagram followers were also quick to attack her for showing off henna tattoos on her hands, to which she had a speedy response:
'Before you go all "cultural appropriation" in my comments, check out the last name. Hadid. Half Palestinian & proud of it,' she wrote.
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