Grime artist Stormzy has delivered a raw and introspective New Year's message to fans, confronting the intense backlash he faced over his commercial deal with McDonald's and revealing he spent part of 2025 "crippled by sadness".
A Controversial Partnership and Fan Backlash
In February 2025, the 32-year-old musician, real name Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr., announced a menu collaboration with the fast-food giant McDonald's. The move sparked immediate and significant criticism from portions of his fanbase, who accused him of hypocrisy. Critics highlighted that by partnering with a company perceived to support Israel, Stormzy was contradicting his own previously stated pro-Palestinian beliefs, which he had shared on social media.
The controversy escalated when it was noted that a previous post expressing support for Palestine had been deleted from his Instagram. At the time, Stormzy clarified this was part of a general archive of old posts and his views on Palestine "have not changed". He asserted that brands he works with do not dictate his opinions. The tangible fallout included stickers appearing in South London McDonald's drive-thrus, accusing the Vossi Bop star of "selling out".
An Emotional New Year's Reflection
In a lengthy, self-described "long-winded" post on January 1, 2026, Stormzy broke a prolonged social media silence to reflect on a transformative and challenging year. He admitted that after entering 2025 defiantly, he found himself struggling profoundly by the summer.
"Then towards the end of the summer I found myself crippled by sadness and I was struggling again," he wrote. The rapper described 2025 as feeling like being "in the wilderness," a period of intense personal and professional testing that forced him to rebuild his team and restructure his life. He credited his faith and the support of his best friend for getting him through.
Directly addressing the McDonald's deal, Stormzy acknowledged it led many to question his character and integrity. He contrasted his current mindset with that of his younger self, who would have felt compelled to explain his reasoning. "Whereas the newer Stormz couldn’t give a single f*** to explain that fact," he stated, though he later added that neither extreme was helpful.
Navigating Fame and Future Intentions
The candid update also tackled his strained relationship with social media, which he now finds "unbearable," and his desire for a more private life. Despite this, he expressed love for his supporters and a hope to find a "happy medium" for connection.
Stormzy confirmed he is working on his fourth studio album and ended the message by vehemently rejecting the "sellout" label. "I can never be a sellout because I am triple-certified," he declared, asserting his authenticity and independence.
The post serves as the artist's most comprehensive response to the furore that defined much of his 2025, framing it within a broader narrative of personal grief, growth, and spiritual reflection.
