Perrie Edwards Talks About Toxic Past With Zayn Malik

Perrie Edwards has shared another insight into one of the most discussed relationships of hers, that with former One Direction singer Zayn Malik. In an honest interview on the We Need to Talk podcast, Perrie opened up about being involved in a toxic relationship with Zayn, despite him being her "first love", and how it shaped her attitude to love.

Speaking about her relationship with Malik, Edwards said it was initially a relief to forget about work and relax when they were together, between 2011 and 2015, during both Little Mix and One Direction's global dominance. "Meeting someone at that time in your career, who's kind of at the same point, is refreshing," she said. Both were trying to figure out how to handle the sudden fame, the pressure of the spotlight, and the extreme touring schedule they found themselves navigating, which was enough common ground at first. But over time, the seams started to split. Perrie confessed the relationship grew even harder and, looking back, "toxic."

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Because he was her first serious boyfriend, she thought what she was experiencing was par for the course in young love. "At the time, I thought everything we experienced in our relationship was normal because it was my first relationship, first love. I was like, 'Oh, this is how it's supposed to feel. It's supposed to feel a little bit toxic in some ways." Only when the two of them broke up did she realize how profoundly the experience had affected her. The singer said that she was now skeptical about love, even of meeting anyone new. "And then when I became single, I was almost thinking, 'I never want to go through that again. '" I didn't even want to meet anybody,'" she confessed.

Perrie's candour has resonated with many fans who have been following her and the rest of the girls since Little Mix's early days. Her words, beyond the sheen of pop stardom, underscore the difficulties of figuring out young love in the glare of the public spotlight. Even for her, it is a reminder that first love, a beautiful thing, can also impart painful lessons. Her connection with Zayn Malik might have been her first encounter with love, but her soulful reverie is a testament that time and maturity always turn havoc into golden life lessons.