British rapper Slowthai waved a mock severed-head of U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his Mercury Prize awards performance.
Slowthai performed Doorman live at the Mercury Prize awards show on Thursday evening while wearing a T-shirt with the message: “F— Boris” and waving a fake head in Johnson’s image.
In BBC’s official video of the performance, Slowthai can be seen showing the head at the beginning and end of his number. He then shouts “F— Boris” before launching into his song. In the middle of the performance, Slowthai injected “F— Boris Johnson, f— everything, and there ain’t nothing Great about Britain.”
While the video doesn’t present a clear picture of Slowthai’s prop, the rapper later posted a clear shot of him holding the head on his Instagram.
Slowthai released a statement following backlash to his display. He stood by his performance while condemning violence.
“Last night I held a mirror up to this country and some people don’t like its reflection. Yet this is exactly where we’re being taken, cut off and at all costs. The people in power who are trying to isolate and divide us aren’t the ones who will feel its effects the hardest,” Slowthai said.
“No Boris Johnson’s were hurt in the making of this Slowthai performance. I don’t condone violence in any form,” the rapper concluded.
Slowthai’s display mirrors a statement made by comedian Kathy Griffin in May 2017. Griffin did a photo shoot while holding the fake, bloody, severed head of President Trump. Griffin’s stunt sparked an inquiry by the Secret Service.
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