Content warning for references to Islamophobia and violence towards women.
Zayn Malik fans are calling for Spotify to remove an offensive song about the former One Direction singer.
Last Sunday, fans of the “Pillowtalk” artist discovered a song written by Uma Kompton called “Zayn did 9/11.” The song allegedly makes a series of offensive Islamophobic claims about Malik, who is currently expecting his first child with Gigi Hadid, including labeling him a “terrorist.”
We shouldn’t need to remind you but calling a person who has previously identified as Muslim that word perpetuates a horribly offensive stereotype of the Muslim community and unfairly villifies them. And, we here at Girlfriend are extremely not about that.
Anyway, soon after, the hashtag #RemoveItForZayn quickly went viral on Twitter. Fans were pretty understandably outraged that someone had made a song like this and that it was even on Spotify in the first place. Some demanded it be taken down while others overwhelmed the hashtag with photos of their sweet angel in fear Malik and Hadid would see it trending.
And, as of writing, it looks like the online campaign is working. The song is currently unplayable on Spotify but still listed on the EP, Hey Rat. But, it seems like more work needs to be done. Glancing over their discography, it looks like Uma Kompton is a controversial and offensive wannabe pop star at best and incredibly problematic and deservingly cancelled at worst.
Some of their songs make references to racist language towards Asian people, body shame sex workers and demonise people who are pro-choice in a song called “Abortion Clinic Queen.” We are genuinely shocked to see content like this exists on Spotify and are awaiting updates from them on what happens next.
And, while Malik told British Vogue in November 2018 that he no longer considered himself Muslim, the song is still incredibly offensive to both him and Muslim communities. It perpetuates incredibly harmful and disrespectful stereotypes about Muslim and Middle-eastern people.
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