Jordan Stephens, a member of the Rizzle Kicks, tells an audience he “loves” his ex-partner Jade Thirlwall while accepting an Ally Award at London’s Roundhouse. Reporting on the Attitude Awards, multiple outlets say Stephens dedicated part of his speech to his allyship and then gave a surprise shout-out to Thirlwall, describing her as someone who “showed” him what being an ally means.
The articles frame the comment as part of Stephens’ wider public advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community, including remarks about how allyship feels genuine rather than challenging. Metro adds that Stephens said he wasn’t at the ceremony with Thirlwall previously, joking about how that might be perceived. Both PinkNews and Metro note that the two separated earlier this year after six years together, and that they appear to remain amicable.
While the outlets all focus on Stephens’ onstage remarks and the Ally Award, they differ slightly in emphasis: PinkNews highlights his personal appreciation of Thirlwall as an influence on his allyship, whereas Metro details the ceremony setting and includes more background on the couple’s recent split and public comments.
