An Oscars-style mix-up apparently occurred at the iHeartRadio Awards on Sunday night (March 5).
It was initially announced that Zayn Malik had won the Best Music video prize for ‘Pillowtalk’. As Stereogum reports, Zayn posted a brief acceptance speech on social media and iHeartRadio shared it on their Snapchat.
thank you ???????? #iHeartAwards pic.twitter.com/gxaJXQ2jVG
— zayn (@zaynmalik) March 5, 2017
However, iHeartRadio announced the following today that Fifth Harmony and Ty Dolla $ign’s ‘Work From Home’ video had actually won the award, which was voted for by fans.
Instead of admitting any kind of mistake, iHeart Radio then declared that Zayn had won a previously unannounced award called ‘Best Solo Breakout’, seemingly in a bid to justify the acceptance video he made.
The mix-up has incensed Zayn fans, who tried to get the #IHeartWasRigged hashtag trending on Twitter. However, Zayn himself has yet to respond to the mistake.
Wow I loved voting for the Best Solo Breakout category… oh wait#iHeartWasRigged
— Vi ♡ (@empathyvmin) March 6, 2017
When @iHeartRadio officially aired Zayn's Best Music Video acceptance speech, but announced a day later he didn't win.? #iHeartWasRigged pic.twitter.com/XFx5S5cng7
— Ula (@alulawings) March 6, 2017
ZAYN ? DESERVES ? BETTER ? ZAYN ? DESERVES ? BETTER ? ZAYN ? DESERVES ? BETTER ? ZAYN ? DESERVES ? BETTER ? ZAYN ? DESERV- #iHeartWasRigged
— e saw h ? (@zainxcruel) March 6, 2017
No one is mad 5h won, it's the fact they said Zayn won and made him do an acceptance speech then just take it away #iHeartWasRigged
— z (@zjmmindofmine) March 6, 2017
Last month, Zayn defended his girlfriend Gigi Hadid after she was accused of racism and “making fun of Asian people”.
The model appeared in an Instagram video posted by sister Bella in which she was seen squinting her eyes and comparing her face to a cookie shaped like a laughing Buddha. The video was swiftly removed following criticism from fans.
https://twitter.com/eleauxel/status/828619419995820032
Bradford-born Malik, whose father is British-Pakistani, later replied to a question from a Twitter follower, who asked: “Being of Asian descent, how do you feel about your girlfriend making fun of Asian people?” Malik responded: “trust me.. she likes asians”.