Comic laughs off NME awards controversy

Rapper Slowthai has apologised for his ‘shameful’ actions towards Katherine Ryan  at the NME awards last night.

The music star said his lecherous actions towards the comedian, who was hosting the show, were a joke that got out of hand. 

In embarrassing scenes, the 25-year-old invaded the comic’s personal space and urged her, on microphone, to ‘smell my cologne’, adding: ‘Smells good, don't it?’

‘She wants me to tend to her flowers. You ain’t never had no one play with you like I’ll play with you.’

TW: sexual harassment

This video of Slowthai sexually harassing Katherine Ryan at the NME awards is awful. So, so gross. Women shouldn't have to endure this as part of their jobs. I know his persona is shithouser but there's a line and he fully crossed it pic.twitter.com/E0lALuF6Ja

— Moya Lothian-Mclean (@mlothianmclean) February 12, 2020

After initially appearing repulsed by his leery actions, Ryan responded by saying sarcastically: ‘You are like the hottest guy I've seen. I’m so thirsty for your cock. Thank you for the attention.’

Slowthai was at the London ceremony to receive the ‘hero of the year’ award – but in a contrite tweet he said that Ryan should have it.

He wrote: ‘.@nme please forward my award to @kathbum for she is the hero of the year. what started as a joke between us escalated to a point of shameful actions on my part. i want to unreservedly apologise, there is no excuse and I am sorry. i am not a hero. 

‘katherine, you are a master at your craft and next time i’ll take my seat and leave the comedy to you. to any woman or man who saw a reflection of situations they’ve been in in those videos, i am sorry. i promise to do better. let’s talk here.’

Shortly afterwards, the audience turned on the rapper – real name Tyron Frampton, from Northampton – sparking an angry confrontation.

When he returned to the stage, the crowd reportedly yelled ‘misogynist’ at him, with the rapper yelling back: ‘Misogynistic? I stand for equality... if you can't take a joke, sit down. Thank you for ruining my speech, thank you very much.

He then threw his microphone aggressively into the crowd, and a man threw it back, calling him a ‘wasteman’, Slowthai then launched his champagne glass into the crowd and jumped aggressively off stage and made to head into the audience, but security held him back.

#slowthai wins ‘Hero Of The Year’ having held up a severed head effigy of the Prime Minister on stage last year.

At the #NMEAwards last night he gets drunk, gropes Katherine Ryan on stage, and then starts a fight with the audience.

Hero may be a stretch pic.twitter.com/EfBDv62DZj

— Ben Obese-Jecty (@BenObeseJecty) February 13, 2020

While some commentators said that Slowthai was guilty of sexual harassment, Ryan, 36, played down any controversy, tweeting after the ceremony: ‘He didn’t make me uncomfortable. This is why we need women in positions of power. I knew he had lost from the moment he opened his mouth like any heckler coming up against a COMIC – not a woman – a COMIC. I was operating 2/10. What a sweet boy. I defused it.’

He didn’t make me uncomfortable.
This is why we need women in positions of power. I knew he had lost from the moment he opened his mouth like any heckler coming up against a COMIC - not a woman - a COMIC. I was operating 2/10. What a sweet boy. I defused it.
Tonight was fun! ❤️ https://t.co/BBMPZpIvhy

— Katherine Ryan (@Kathbum) February 13, 2020

Published: 13 Feb 2020