News | Entertainment
25 Feb 2026 2:23
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Jordan Stephens "wasn't equipped to deal with" early fame

    The 33-year-old rapper became known as part of Rizzle Kicks alongside Harley Alexander-Sule in the early 2000s and admitted upon their reunion that there is likely to be a "reason" that so many young artists end up going down a dark path


    Speaking on ITV News, he explained: "We rose to our highest point of notoriety quite young and even though we probably felt as if we were equipped to deal with that kind of attention, we weren't.

    "Our lives have shifted dramatically, our values have changed so the process [this time round] has been a lot calmer.

    "I think there's a reason why so many famous people end up hurting themselves. "

    In the joint interview, Jordan was joined by his bandmate and he believes that in order for things to change within the industry, record labels should paying for the healthcare of their employees.

    He said: "The conversation around mental health was quite timely if that can make sense. I think there needs to be a thing where at record labels there's like in-house therapists so they can have that support around them, the label can pay for the healthcare. We didn't have that."

    Jordan - who alongside Harley became known fo hits like 'Down with the Trumpets' - recently admitted that he ended up in a "whirlwind" of addiction during those early days of success.

    He told The Observer: "I was taking 400mg then, so I'm firing on all cylinders: a rap album, a punk album; hot yoga, new ventures, hitting the gym... and I'm driving myself into debt. I was on one. And I was finger-pointy, but I didn't know s***, bro. The perception I had of myself was so shallow and fragile. All it took was a woman to bin me off and that was it. My whole sense of self disintegrated.

    "It was a f****** whirlwind. There's a lot I don't remember, and I feel totally detached from certain things that happened. But I just think, right now, it's not important. All you need to know is that I had time on my hands, and some cash in the bank."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     24 Feb: Hailee Steinfeld feels "more prepared for a newborn" as time goes on
     24 Feb: Leigh-Anne Pinnock wants her twin daughters to "choose if they want to be famous or not"
     24 Feb: Judy Garland once tried to boot her daughter Liza Minnelli off stage during a joint performance
     24 Feb: Kelly Osbourne says grief is a "quiet weight you learn to carry"
     24 Feb: Eric Dane's girlfriend Janell Shirtcliff has paid an emotional tribute to the late actor
     24 Feb: Kurt Russell is happy to still be alive ahead of his milestone birthday
     24 Feb: Sterling K. Brown's teenage son will never admit his dad is cool - despite secretly thinking it
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Crusaders captain David Havili insists his side can dig a way out of their early Super Rugby hole More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Mercury's achieved a strong return to profit More...



     Today's News

    Motoring:
    A car driver's died after a crash between a truck and a car about 11am on Waikato's State Highway 2 - near Mangatawhiri 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Hailee Steinfeld feels "more prepared for a newborn" as time goes on 21:51

    Entertainment:
    Leigh-Anne Pinnock wants her twin daughters to "choose if they want to be famous or not" 21:21

    Business:
    Mercury's achieved a strong return to profit 21:17

    Law and Order:
    France is considering a social media ban as devastated families launch legal action against TikTok 21:07

    Entertainment:
    Judy Garland once tried to boot her daughter Liza Minnelli off stage during a joint performance 20:51

    Entertainment:
    Kelly Osbourne says grief is a "quiet weight you learn to carry" 20:21

    Entertainment:
    Eric Dane's girlfriend Janell Shirtcliff has paid an emotional tribute to the late actor 19:51

    Entertainment:
    Kurt Russell is happy to still be alive ahead of his milestone birthday 19:21

    Business:
    Auckland's been crowned the region with the worst savers, according to Westpac data 18:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd