Zayn Malik
Rumors swirled that "PILLOWTALK" singer Zayn Malik, pictured May 15, 2016, was involved in a sex tape. It's just a hoax, though. Reuters

When the internet labels something as “not safe for work,” or “NSFW,” it’s sometimes a ploy to get netizens to click. But in the case of #GottaZayn, there is no exaggeration when we say the video is not safe for work.

The hashtag gained momentum Tuesday after a graphic video surfaced online. It’s so explicit that our editors wouldn’t even want us to describe it other than Zayn Malik, who is formerly of One Direction, appears to be involved in a sex tape. For curious minds, simply typing in the hashtag #GottaZayn will most likely reveal the video with the Malik lookalike. To be clear, the British singer isn't in the picture. It's just someone who resembles him.

“Gotta Zayn” is slang for “gotta go” or “have to hurry,” according to Urban Dictionary. This is because Malik ditched his boy band, One Direction, in 2015.

How do we know it's not Malik? True fans knew it wasn’t really him in the video because of a tattoo on the person’s chest. While the guy in the video has a tattoo of a pitchfork, Malik has a tattoo of angel wings. In general, the “PILLOWTALK” singer has more tattoos over his whole body than the person in the video.

Also, Gossip Cop, the website the debunks celebrity rumors, dismatled the hoax. “Zayn Malik is NOT featured in a gay sex tape that leaked onto the internet, despite completely wrong social media speculation,” the publication wrote Tuesday.

Malik hasn’t issued a response to the video.

He and model Gigi Hadid broke up last month after she was featured in his video for “PILLOWTALK.” They were reportedly fighting and have had a tumultuous relationship. They broke up and “got back together a few times,” an insider told E! Online last month.

Even though they are not together now, there is a chance they can rekindle their romance. “Zayn and Gigi did break up, but they can likely get back together tomorrow. It's all very unclear what's going on between them now. They been having some issues lately that involved communication and getting along,” the insider said. “Gigi is really sad about this, though, and in a way would like to work it out. It's more about that constant contact with Zayn that she misses and they did get very close.”

Hadid, who wasn’t featured in the video, hasn’t issued a response either.

Follow me on Twitter @mariamzzarella

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