Speaking Up for Palestine Costs Artists Millions, Says Jordan Stephens

“People say get a backbone and do your thing and they're right to say that. And I love Ed, so I would hold him as anyone I love in my life. I’ll hold him accountable and say, I think you should have stood up.” In this episode of ’The Real Question with Shehab Khan,” Rizzle Kicks’ rapper Jordan Stephens joined political editor Shehab Khan to share that artists should not hide behind neutrality when speaking out on Palestine, despite the professional pressure that can come with it. Stephens called out longtime friend Ed Sheeran, noting he’d hold his friend accountable over his handing of Macklemore being removed from Sheeran’s tour after calling for a free Palestine and that he should have “stood up for the freedom for your friend to talk”. Throughout the conversation, Stephen also discussed his personal activism for Palestine, why it’s “not a complex issue” and the financial risks supporting Palestine can have in the entertainment industry. They also dive into impact fame can have at a young age, what work Stephens is most proud of and what future projects he’s working on. This interview published on October 3, 2026 at zeteo.uk. If you want early, exclusive access to this kind of independent, unfiltered journalism — subscribe to our Substack here: https://zeteo.uk/subscribe CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:41 Fame at an Early Age, Friendship and Mental Health 06:40 Reflecting on Career and Trying New Things 16:43 Star Wars and Acting 20:36 Palestine, Activism and Risks 29:13 Ed Sheeran, Macklemore and Celebrity Activism 41:49 The Steeze Factory Subscribe to Zeteo to support independent and unfiltered journalism: https://zeteo.com/subscribe Find Zeteo: Twitter:   / zeteo_news   Instagram:   / zeteonews   TikTok:   / zeteonews   Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/zeteo.com Find Mehdi: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter:   / @mehdirhasan   Instagram:   / @mehdirhasan   Tik Tok:   / mehdirhasan   To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/networ...