News | Entertainment
20 Feb 2026 13:19
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
     20 Feb: Meaghan Oppenheimer has revealed Tell Me Lies is ending at the "perfect" time
     19 Feb: Jane Seymour felt privileged to work with Robert Duvall
     19 Feb: Logan Paul has sold a Pokemon trading card for $16.5 million
     19 Feb: Sir Sam Mendes has "no outlet" during a film shoot
     19 Feb: Walton Goggins has hailed Robert Duvall as the "greatest storyteller of all time"
     19 Feb: Daniel Radcliffe is "always taking care" of Tracy Morgan
     19 Feb: Viola Davis was "in awe" of Robert Duvall when they worked together
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    A Sky Sport Now subscription's about to become more costly More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Fonterra is raising its forecast payout to farmers, following the latest rise in global dairy prices More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Meaghan Oppenheimer has revealed Tell Me Lies is ending at the "perfect" time 13:17

    Golf:
    To golf's PGA Tour .. 13:07

    International:
    Donald Trump hosts first 'Board of Peace' meeting with new pledges for Gaza 13:07

    Education:
    A fire's broken out at Auckland's Northcote College, as firefighters strike 13:07

    Rugby League:
    A blow for the Sydney Roosters for their NRL league season-opener away against the New Zealand Warriors on March 6 12:57

    Athletics:
    Pole vaulter Imogen Ayris' continues to leap the highest in her career, this time at an indoor athletics meet in France 11:57

    Law and Order:
    What we know about ex-prince Andrew's arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office 11:57

    Rugby League:
    Super League champions Hull Kingston Rovers have held off the NRL-winning Brisbane Broncos 30-24 in league's World Club Challenge 11:57

    Politics:
    Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor released under investigation after almost 10 hours in custody 11:27

    National:
    Why has Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor been arrested, and what legal protections do the royal family have? 11:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd