Manchester rapper Aitch has announced his participation in the upcoming series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! with a deeply personal mission: to transform public perception of Down Syndrome, inspired by his close bond with his 13-year-old sister, Gracie.
A Personal Mission for Awareness
The artist, whose real name is Harrison James Armstrong, explained his powerful motivation in an interview with the Daily Mail. He stated he is not only doing this for individuals with Down Syndrome but also for their families and support networks. 'I don't want anyone to be disheartened or feel bad if they find out someone in the family's got Down Syndrome. It's a blessing,' the 25-year-old said. 'You're going to have the best time of your life as long as you're spending it with that person.'
He passionately emphasised that his main goal is to challenge negative stereotypes. 'My main thing, really and truly, is because I don't want Down Syndrome to be seen as a negative thing,' Aitch revealed. He expressed frustration with common reactions, adding, 'I don't want anyone to say, 'Oh, my kid's got Down Syndrome,' and have someone reply, 'Oh, I'm sorry to hear that,' because it's definitely not the case. They're the best people in the world.'
Speaking Out on Controversial Legislation
The Straight Rhymez musician also addressed the sensitive topic of UK abortion laws, which permit termination for a baby with Down Syndrome up to the point of birth. 'I've just learned certain things over the years that make me a bit sad,' he shared. 'In terms of you can be a day before giving birth, and if you find out your child's got Down Syndrome, you can still have the option to terminate it. Whereas in another situation, if your kid doesn't have that, you've only got a certain amount of time.'
His advocacy is rooted in his profound connection with Gracie. He previously dedicated his song 'My G' to her, with all proceeds from the track donated to the Down's Syndrome Association. The song's lyrics, 'Baby, live your best life, you shouldn't grow by force. All in your own time, G, the globe is yours,' serve as a touching tribute. The accompanying music video even featured a cameo from global superstar Ed Sheeran.
Jungle Surprises and Future Ambitions
In a lighter moment, Aitch confessed he had to keep his jungle adventure a secret from his sister, fearing she would reveal the surprise. 'My Gracie thinks I'm going to LA because she's a chatty mouth,' he joked. He believes she will be '100 per cent' surprised when she sees him on screen alongside fellow campmates like Jack Osborne and Kelly Brook.
Beyond raising awareness, the singer hopes his stint in the Australian jungle will boost his profile as he looks to branch out into television work. 'The original reason I wanted to come on here was because it's hard to say no, isn't it? It's just a show that I grew up watching,' he said, noting that his mother would have been mad if he had declined the opportunity.
