Stormzy has accused the media of “intentionally spinning my words for some click bait” after a remark he made about racism in the UK was significantly misrepresented by various publications.
During an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica last week, the rapper was asked if Britain was still racist, to which he replied: “definitely, 100%”.
Over the weekend, this quote was represented in headlines and articles by ITV, the Daily Mail, The Sun and The Independent to imply that the grime artist had said the UK was 100% racist, rather than that he 100% believed there was racism in the country.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In a frank tweet yesterday, Stormzy said: “All you publications and media outlets that are intentionally spinning my words for some click bait can suck my dick and please don’t try beg it in the future.”
The Sun’s headline read: “Stormzy claims UK is ‘definitely 100% racist’” while the Daily Mail’s coverage included the claim that “The grime artist said the country was ‘definitely, 100% racist’”.
ITV, another outlet which was criticised for its handling of the story, subsequently apologised, admitting that while it had included Stormzy’s full response to the question on their website, its own headline and tweet misrepresented what he had said.
During the original interview, Stormzy had also claimed that racism has got worse under Boris Johnson, arguing that the prime minister was a “figurehead” whose words and actions had made it more respectable to say racist things in British society.
He said: “If the top person can openly say this racist thing – the ‘piccaninnies’ remarks, ‘watermelon smiles’, comparing Muslim women to a letter box – if that is our figurehead, the top man, the leader we have to follow, and he openly says these things, he encourages hate among others.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
-
Political cartoons for February 1Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include Tom Homan's offer, the Fox News filter, and more
-
Will SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic make 2026 the year of mega tech listings?In Depth SpaceX float may come as soon as this year, and would be the largest IPO in history
-
Reforming the House of LordsThe Explainer Keir Starmer’s government regards reform of the House of Lords as ‘long overdue and essential’
-
The high street: Britain’s next political battleground?In the Spotlight Mass closure of shops and influx of organised crime are fuelling voter anger, and offer an opening for Reform UK
-
Is a Reform-Tory pact becoming more likely?Today’s Big Question Nigel Farage’s party is ahead in the polls but still falls well short of a Commons majority, while Conservatives are still losing MPs to Reform
-
Asylum hotels: everything you need to knowThe Explainer Using hotels to house asylum seekers has proved extremely unpopular. Why, and what can the government do about it?
-
Taking the low road: why the SNP is still standing strongTalking Point Party is on track for a fifth consecutive victory in May’s Holyrood election, despite controversies and plummeting support
-
Behind the ‘Boriswave’: Farage plans to scrap indefinite leave to remainThe Explainer The problem of the post-Brexit immigration surge – and Reform’s radical solution
-
What difference will the 'historic' UK-Germany treaty make?Today's Big Question Europe's two biggest economies sign first treaty since WWII, underscoring 'triangle alliance' with France amid growing Russian threat and US distance
-
Is the G7 still relevant?Talking Point Donald Trump's early departure cast a shadow over this week's meeting of the world's major democracies
-
Angela Rayner: Labour's next leader?Today's Big Question A leaked memo has sparked speculation that the deputy PM is positioning herself as the left-of-centre alternative to Keir Starmer
