Rizzle Kicks star Jordan Stephens publicly declared his love for his ex-girlfriend Jade Thirlwall while accepting the Ally Award at the Attitude Awards at London's Roundhouse on 7 October.
Wrapping up his speech, Stephens said: "One last thing, shout out to Jade, I love Jade. It feels like a little bit homophobic that I am not here with her."
Ally Award recognition
Stephens also discussed Thirlwall in the latest issue of Attitude magazine, saying: "Jade showed me what an ally is. So, I'm going to try not to get imposter syndrome, but for me, I guess it's about not being afraid to show my allegiance to a community that I really admire."
Radio host Dean McCullough and Big Brother star AJ Odudu introduced Stephens to the stage and praised his advocacy. The event hosted more than 700 guests, including Donatella Versace, Pet Shop Boys, Ian McKellen, David Furnish, and Alesha Dixon.
Stephens said: "It honestly, genuinely means the f****** world to me to get this. Being an ally, to me, doesn't feel like a challenge, because I genuinely love the f****** community from the bottom of my heart."
Personal reflections
He also thanked his godfather, singer David McAlmont, who joined him on stage. He said: "I want to give him his flowers. He doesn't want to say anything, but he looks f****** amazing. He's a f****** legend."
Stephens, 34, and former Little Mix star Thirlwall, 33, split after six years. He previously described being in a high-profile relationship as "complex and difficult".
Speaking on his podcast Miss Me with Miquita Oliver, he told his co-host: "I think I'm uncomfortable with even the concept of it being out. I've never experienced. I've never been in a high-profile relationship, really, so I think I'm very conflicted because I definitely pride myself on being open and transparent, and I like to pull apart experiences of my own in the hope that it can create insight or create conversation. But I think this is a difficult one because if I'm to believe how quickly speculation can arise. I'm always like a couple of words or sentences away from either making something worse."
He admitted he does plan to discuss the relationship further, saying he will do so "once things have settled a bit", because he is "not going to avoid something that's quite obvious that's been a thing".
He continued: "I don't want to like pretend like that isn't happening or hasn't happened but I also want to make it clear that it's so bizarre. I'm a very transparent person and things will come out when necessary and I don't mean to be too cryptic, it really isn't that deep, well I mean it is deep for me but I mean I think it's really important that whatever you may think as an everyday normal human... Like how complex and difficult relationships can be, there's no difference; you don't get any exemptions. There's no unusual subjective feeling when you also have followers. It just doesn't work like that. Grief does not or anything like that or any powerful emotion doesn't discriminate."
