Zayn Malik faces backlash after asking his fans to crowdfund mum's friend's cancer treatment

Normally, when a celebrity does something in a bid to help those less fortunate they are praised and showered with love and support by their fans.

However, Zayn Malik has been accused of being stingy after he took to his Twitter page to beg his millions of followers for help crowdfunding his mum’s best friend’s cancer treatment.

Writing: “This is my mum’s best friend, please help in any way possible”, Zayn shared a link to Ayesha Daniels’ GoFundMe page, where she is trying to raise £120,000 after being diagnosed with cancer.

Aged 47, and the mother a 15-year-old daughter, Ayesha explains in the page’s description that she was told that she has stage three cancer in her lungs, lumph nodes and pancreas in September 2015.

After months of unsuccessful treatment, Ayesha learned earlier this year that she has 14 tumours in her brain and her “last hope” is to attempt a treatment called ChemoThermia in Istanbul, who offer “metabolically supported chemotherapy alongside other alternative treatments” – but it comes at a huge cost.

However, Zayn’s attempt to help raise money for Ayesha has come under fire, with many of his followers pointing out that he is a multi-millionaire and could easily pay the £120,000 price tag if he wanted to.

Responding to his original tweet, one disgruntled fan wrote: “He could have completely paid for it he doesn’t need our help. He’s filthy rich.”

Others added: “What did you spend your millions on? Strippers and drugs?”

“Aren’t you like… Super rich?”

In Ayesha’s original message, she explains that a “friend” is funding all of her travel and accomodation costs, not specifying whether or not that friend is Zayn, and since learning of the backlash against the former One Direction star she has defended him on the page.

Posting an update, Ayesha explained: “I’m so pleased that you genuine peeps are still donating and helping my cause. I’ve had a fabulous response to my page and posts, from both friends and strangers,but this response is tinged with sadness for me.

“I asked my ‘nephew’ Zayn Malik to drum up some publicity for me, by way of highlighting my page and illness via Twitter. This has had an adverse effect for him as the spiteful trolls are attacking him for his kindness.

“Never, ever would I ask him for financial help in any way, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. My request was for him to enlighten the public of my sad plight and he did exactly as I asked.

“So come on all you trolls, give him a break please and let’s just get on with the fundraising.”

Zayn hasn’t responded to the negative comments and Ayesha’s page has so far raised over £15,000.

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