Jamelia EXCLUSIVE: The Dark Side of Being A SUPERSTAR! This is My Truth. Fame wasn't worth it!

In this episode of We Need To Talk, BRIT-nominated, MOBO award-winning singer Jamelia sits down for a raw and unfiltered conversation, sharing the untold chapters of her life - from rising to fame as a teenage Superstar to the dark realities of the music industry. She opens up about being groomed at 16, surviving an abusive relationship that inspired Thank You, and the relentless scrutiny of the tabloids, who hacked her phone for a decade. Despite it all, Jamelia has never been happier. She reflects on fame, family, and resilience - how she’s navigated betrayal, heartbreak, and an industry that tried to break her, only to come out stronger. She shares how motherhood saved her, why she’s finally at peace, and the power of owning her story. This is Jamelia as you've never heard her before - honest, fearless, and thriving. Support charities: Refuge - https://g2ul0.app.link/DyflXtM08Qb Women's Aid - https://g2ul0.app.link/kW1JuPO08Qb Follow me here: https://www.instagram.com/needtotalk https://www.tiktok.com/@weneedtotalkpod Follow Jamelia here: Instagram - https://g2ul0.app.link/f4cAxiQQ8Qb TikTok - https://g2ul0.app.link/lgMDMYG08Qb Spotify - https://g2ul0.app.link/vsj2h9y08Qb 00:00 Intro 01:54 Growing Up in Handsworth 03:01 Riots in '81 04:27 How Would You Define Rastafarianism? 10:26 Her Father in Prison 13:38 How Did Your Father's Consistency Shape Your Relationships? 18:55 What Would You Say to Your Father Now? 22:28 Self-Work and Self-Reflection 24:58 Forgiving Your Parents 27:12 Her Mother 29:32 How Did You Decide Music Was the Career? 33:00 Making More Money Than Her Mother 35:32 Music Career Takes Off 35:56 Her Brothers Groomed Onto the Streets 37:33 How Do You Define Grooming? 41:42 Did You Blame Yourself for Your Brother's Conviction? 44:49 A Mother to Nieces and Nephews 49:42 Career Regrets, Phone Hacking, and Press Harassment 56:49 Sexualisation in the Industry 1:04:10 Code-Switching 1:07:46 Eating at Nelson Mandela's House 1:09:28 Adobe ExpressAd 1:10:25 Tinder Ad 1:11:37 Thank You Song 1: