Vogue apologises for claiming Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid are 'gender fluid' after backlash over cover

'Wearing your girlfriend's T-shirt does not make you gender fluid'

Vogue said Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid were "embracing gender fluidity" (Inez and Vinoodh/Vogue)

US Vogue has apologised for writing that Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid were "embracing gender fluidity" by sharing clothes.

The magazine admitted it "missed the mark" as it faced a backlash online over its cover story about the former One Direction singer and his American model girlfriend.

The couple spoke about borrowing each other's T-shirts in an interview, in which Vogue described them as "part of a new generation embracing gender fluidity".

Many on social media pointed out the term typically refers to people who do not identify as male or female.

Hadid and Malik appear on the cover of Vogue's August issue (Inez and Vinoodh/Vogue)

"Wearing your girlfriend's T-shirt does not make you gender fluid," wrote Colette Fahy on Twitter.

Hannah Orenstein added: "Zayn and Gigi are profiled in this piece on gender fluidity because... they borrow each other's clothes sometimes?"

Others noted that Malik "isn't out here wearing dresses," and suggested it was "such a big jump for the mag to declare gender fluidity".

The article, written by Maya Singer, is accompanied by pictures of the Malik, 24, and Hadid, 22, wearing colourful, androgynous clothing.

It reports a conversation between the couple about each other's wardrobes, with the singer asking his girlfriend: "What was that T-shirt I borrowed the other day?

"I like that shirt. And if it's tight on me, so what? It doesn't matter if it was made for a girl."

Hadid added: "It's not about gender. It's about, like, shapes. And what feels good on you that day. And anyway, it's fun to experiment."

Malik told the magazine: "It can seem like everyone's doing the same thing. Gender, whatever - you want to make your own statement. You know? You want to feel distinct."

Transgender writer Jacob Tobia, in an article for Cosmopolitan, accused Vogue of "using the identities and struggles and activism and brilliance of gender-nonconforming and nonbinary people in order to spice up [its] fall cover of two cisgender celebrities".

Tobia added: "If you're going to talk about a marginalised community, talk to that community."

In a statement, Vogue said: "The story was intended to highlight the impact the gender-fluid, non-binary communities have had on fashion and culture.

"We are very sorry the story did not correctly reflect that spirit - we missed the mark.

"We do look forward to continuing the conversation with greater sensitivity."