Last night was supposed to be a celebratory one for British rap star slowthai, still riding high from the success of his debut album, Nothing Great About Britain, and his newfound fame/infamy in the States thanks to his Jimmy Fallon appearance.
The annual NME Awards, which was held at the O2 Academy in Brixton, were celebrating him with their Hero Of The Year Award, but then things took a turn for the worse.
this nigga slowthai wilinnn #NMEAwards2020 pic.twitter.com/f5eBiJgD7M
— chairman (@ChairmanBuoy) February 12, 2020
In one clip, the night's hosts, Canadian-born comedian Kathryn Ryan and Beats 1 presenter Julie Adenuga, had just presented slowthai with the award when he started to make comments about Ryan, that many thought were crude, as well as violating her personal space.
However, this full clip shows that there was some back-and-forth banter between the pair before slowthai even hit the stage. Still, members of the crowd weren't happy with him.
After the mood in the room appeared to turn sour on the Northampton rapper, he then accused an audience member of "ruining [his] speech" with booing; the audience member can be heard calling him a "misogynist and a "wasteman". Microphones and drinks were thrown, and then slowthai jumped into the crowd to confront the man.
Naturally, security was instantly on slowthai and he was quickly kicked out, but the incident is having a lasting effect.
It’s just kicked off at the NME Awards #Slowthai 😬 just after he won hero of the year #NMEAwards2020 pic.twitter.com/rKmUOXSuhB
— Vinesh (@V1nesh) February 12, 2020
Following the whole incident, Katherine Ryan went on Twitter last night to let people know that she wasn't offended by slowthai.
He didn’t make me uncomfortable.
— Katherine Ryan (@Kathbum) February 13, 2020
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
The "Inglorious Bastard" star then took to Twitter this morning to apologise to Ryan, asking NME to give her his Hero Of The Year award instead. Ryan then replied saying, "I knew you were joking and congratulations on your very award-worthy album."
.@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. (1/2)
— tyron. (@slowthai) February 13, 2020
I knew you were joking and congratulations on your very award-worthy album! I hope you know that a bad day on social media passes so quickly. Everything will be better tomorrow. Xx
— Katherine Ryan (@Kathbum) February 13, 2020
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