Huffington Post Apologizes for Using Zayn Malik's Photo With a Tweet About ISIS

Publication explains how he is a Muslim in pop culture

By Kendall Fisher Nov 20, 2015 8:17 PMTags
Zayn MalikSPW / Splash News

Huffington Post got some harsh reactions on Friday after they used a photo of Zayn Malik for a tweet regarding ISIS.

The publication used the photo to promote an article titled "What ISIS Wants," which fans believed made it appear as though the former One Direction crooner—who also happens to be Muslim—is involved with the terrorist group.

HuffPo quickly took to Twitter to fix the issue and explain the use of the photo.

"We apologize for the original image here," the publication posted to Twitter as a follow up. "Zayn Malik is mentioned in the story, but is obviously not part of ISIS."

The article discusses the "gray zone of coexistence" between Muslims and non-Muslims in the Western World. Malik is exemplified in the piece as a famous Muslim who rejects the radical ideology of the terror group, and rather embraces the cultural principles of the West.

However, though featuring him in a positive light, the article and the use of the photo with the Tweet only added to the chaos surrounding the singer following the recent events surrounding ISIS. Malik was on the receiving end of a slew of hateful messages after the Paris terrorist attacks last week with some people even going as far as saying he was one of the gunmen involved.