Grime artist Stormzy has delivered a powerfully honest and introspective New Year's message to his fans, detailing a period of profound personal struggle throughout 2025 that left him feeling like he was "dying a slow death".
A Year of Unexpected Twists and Tough Pivots
In a lengthy statement shared on his Instagram on the 1st of January 2026, the 32-year-old musician, whose real name is Michael Ebenzer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr, reflected on a challenging 12 months. He revealed that towards the end of 2024, his life took several "unexpected twists and turns" which forced him to make significant changes.
"These same events also robbed me of the wide-eyed innocence I once navigated the world with," Stormzy wrote. He used a vivid analogy, comparing the disillusionment to discovering a headless Mickey Mouse character arguing on a phone and smoking a cigarette, shattering the magical illusion of Disneyland.
Rebuilding From the Ground Up
The rapper, who burst onto the music scene a decade ago, explained that the difficult period necessitated a complete overhaul of his professional and personal life. "I had to rebuild my team and restructure my life," he confessed, adding that the world he knew and loved would never be the same again, leading to considerable grief and heartbreak.
He described the demands of this new chapter as challenging every part of his being, testing him "physically, spiritually, professionally and creatively." This was particularly unsettling for the artist, who has always been clear on his purpose and the direction he believes he is spiritually guided to take.
Embracing Chaos for a Fresh Start
Despite the pain of the last year, which included the heartbreak of losing his beloved Rottweiler, Enzo, in November 2025, Stormzy struck a note of resilient optimism. The dog was a pet he originally shared with his ex-girlfriend, TV presenter Maya Jama.
Looking ahead, the star signalled his readiness for a new beginning, writing: "Ok, I'm ready. There's poetry in all this chaos so lemme embrace it." He also stated that the trials had hammered the final nail into his desire to be understood by others, a part of himself that was already fading.
Although he disabled comments on the post, it garnered support from famous followers including former Love Island star Wes Nelson, Made in Chelsea's Sam Thompson, and singer Lisa Maffia. The post was accompanied by several personal photos from his year, including one with actor Barry Keoghan.
