Former Australian Idol winner Stan Walker looks gaunt and unwell in picture with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

FANS have expressed concern online after Australian Idol winner posted a picture with Jacinda Ardern looking frail with the New Zealand PM also commenting on him being “unwell”.

Jacinda Ardern with a gaunt-looking Stan Walker. Picture: Instagram

KIWI pop star Stan Walker has reportedly been struggling with health issues.

Walker’s manager told Newshub the musician has had a “number of health scares”.

“He has had some challenges healthwise but he will be back and working towards a new single release in March.”

The New Zealand Herald reports the musician’s manager did not state what health issues Walker has been facing, however confirmed he was well enough to perform at the One Love festival in Tauranga this weekend.

Walker addressed around 100 inspirational young people at a dinner for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s Youth Program last night.

Australian Idol winner Stan Walker looks gaunt. Picture: Instagram

Stan Walker looking much healthier. Picture: Supplied

He posted about the “special night” on social media with a photo of himself, looking gaunt, alongside Ardern.

“Why are you so skinny dude?” one person asked on Instagram.

“Yayur!!! Looking slim Stan;) watch out though the aunties will cook boil ups and tell you to go eat,” another said.

Ardern also discussed Walker’s health on Instagram, thanking him for attending the Youth Program event “despite being unwell”.

Fans have been asking on Facebook after his recent dramatic weight loss for weeks.

A person claiming to be a distant cousin explained the situation, saying: “His weight loss is due to heath reasons — not by choice, coming from a distant relative who also has the same health issue. Upsetting seeing lots of posts with negative comments from people when they don’t even know the reason for the weight loss.”

Walker postponed a tour of New Zealand in 2016 as his mum April Walker recovered from breast cancer.

He had previously discovered he inherited a rare cancer-causing gene mutation called CDH1 that has caused the deaths of more than 25 of his family members, according to Fairfax.

In October last year Walker told the Herald his mum was an inspiration.

“Mum said, ‘I never thought cancer would get me,’ but it did. She’s an inspiration, and now that she’s in recovery, she’s focusing on speaking about her health journey, particularly to Maori-Pacific women, and raising awareness of cancer.”

In 2009, Walker won the seventh and final season of Australian Idol. He was also a judge on The X Factor NZ in 2015.

This article originally appeared in The New Zealand Herald and is republished here with permission