Stormzy did not delete an Instagram post in support of Palestinian liberation because of his recent collaboration with McDonald’s, sources close to the rapper have told Sky News.
The 31-year-old grime artisthas faced a backlash for removing an old post that said “Free Palestine” after working on a campaign with the fast-food chain.
But sources close to the Vossi Bop rapper exclusively told Sky News that it “is simply not true” that the “archiving” of his Instagram post and the release of the McDonald’s campaign are linked.
Stormzy’s recent McDonald’s partnership packages his “go-to” order as a limited meal option, which the chain has dubbed “The Stormzy Meal” – containing chicken nuggets, fries, BBQ sauce, a Sprite drink, and an Oreo McFlurry.
Image: Stormzy’s collaboration with McDonald’s has caused much controversy with fans – and has been dubbed ‘hypocritical’. Pic: McDonald’s
Critics of Israel called for a global boycott of McDonald’s last year, when McDonald’s Israel announced it donated thousands of free meals to Israel Defence Forces troops fighting in Gaza.
The campaign, led by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, dented sales at McDonald’s.
Image: Rapper Stormzy performing at Glastonbury in 2019, wearing a bulletproof vest designed by Banksy. Pic: Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
The deletion of Stormzy’s “Free Palestine” post was part of a “mass archiving effort” last year, the sources close to him add.
They said it was “categorically not” linked to his involvement with McDonald’s.
Sky News has contacted McDonald’s for comment.
Image: Stormzy’s 2018 performance at The Brit Awards was dedicated to the 72 victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. Pic: Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
The now-removed Instagram post read: “I hope everyone is good, some fleeting thoughts.
“1. Free Palestine
“2. In the future, if there is ever a clear injustice in the world, no matter how big or small, 100 times out of 100 I will be on the side of the oppressed. Unequivocally. As I always have been. Social media is a brilliant way to stand up for what is right, there are also a whole load of other ways to do this.”
After the post was deleted, many of Stormzy’s fans shared that they were “disappointed” by the rapper’s “hypocrisy”.
One person on X criticised Stormzy’s McDonald’s campaign, writing it was done “for a bit of money that you don’t even need”. They added: “You deleted this post to do a McDonald’s commercial.”
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), a founding member of the BDS movement, said: “Stormzy’s call for Palestinian freedom in the early stages of Israel’s genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza, when few artists were speaking out, displayed a clear stance in support of all oppressed people.”
But it added: “Partnering with corporations that are implicated in genocide, apartheid and military occupation can only whitewash those crimes.”
In an open letter to Stormzy, the Peace and Justice Project – founded by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in 2021 – also said his work with McDonald’s is “hugely disappointing, especially given the musician’s otherwise proud and solid record in supporting great causes and campaigns for social justice”.
The group added: “We are therefore asking Stormzy to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their hour of need and respect the BDS committee’s call for a global boycott of McDonald’s by ending his new partnership with them.”
Image: Indonesians boycotting McDonald’s in the country in November 2023. Pic: AP
Much of Gaza lies in ruins after Israel’s war to destroy Hamas.
More than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count.
At least 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage when Hamas launched its massacre in Israel on 7 October 2023.
Stormzy has previously supported several social justice issues – including launching a scholarship to help Black students access top universities and dedicating his Brit Award performance in 2018 to the 72 victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
His Instagram biography tags pro-Palestine rapper Lowkey – inviting fans to click on his account and learn about activists’ calls for Palestinian liberation.
Austria has won Eurovision 2025, with Austrian-Filipino singer-songwriter JJ taking the glass microphone.
The 24-year-old singer, who originally trained as a countertenor, represented his country with his operatic ballad Wasted Love, staged on a storm-tossed ship.
The song, which was not dissimilar to that of last year’s winner Nemo, told the story of unrequited love, with a techno breakdown near the end. Austria has won Eurovision twice before, the last time in 2014 with Conchita Wurst’s pop hit Rise Like A Phoenix.
Image: JJ singing Wasted Love for Austria. Pic: Reuters
Israel’s Yuval Raphael, who survived the October 7, 2023, attacks which were the catalyst for Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza, was the runner-up with piano ballad New Day Will Rise, performed in Hebrew, French and English.
The singer was left “shaken and upset,” after two pro-Palestinian protesters rushed towards her during her grand final performance.
Organisers confirmed a backstage crew member was hit with paint but was not hurt.
A spokesman for SRG SSR said: “At the end of the Israeli performance, a man and a woman tried to get over a barrier onto the stage.
More on Eurovision
Related Topics:
“They were stopped. One of the two agitators threw paint and a crew member was hit. The crew member is fine and nobody was injured. The man and the woman were taken out of the venue and handed over to the police.”
Israel has won Eurovision four times, and last year finished in fifth place with Eden Golan’s Hurricane.
Image: Yuval Raphael performs New Day Will Rise for Israel. Pic:AP
Just as the grand final began broadcasting, Spanish broadcaster shared a message of Palestinian support which read: “When human rights are at stake, silence is not an option. Peace and justice for Palestine.”
The broadcaster had already received a warning from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) over political statements reported by Israeli broadcaster Kan.
The EBU said in response to the latter incident: “We can confirm that we have spoken to RTVE regarding this matter and made it clear that commentators are expected to maintain neutrality within the broadcasts of the Eurovision Song Contest.”
During the evening, there were also pro-Palestinian protests near the centre of Basel, as well as a small group nearby protesting with Israeli flags.
Israeli National Security Council had issued a warning to Israeli civilians in the city to keep a low profile during the competition.
In a change from last year’s contest in Malmo, Sweden, the ban on certain flags being waved by the audience was relaxed which meant Palestinian symbols could be seen in the arena.
Image: Remember Monday perform What The Hell Just Happened for the UK. Pic: AP
The UK’s act – country pop trio Remember Monday – who performed in colourful Bridgerton-style outfits – avoided the dreaded “nul points”, coming in at 19th place with song What The Hell Just Happened?
However, for the second year running, the UK received no points in the public score.
The UK has had five wins at Eurovision, but in recent years have struggled to rank, with the exception being Sam Ryder with Space Man in 2022, who came second.
Last year, Olly Alexander placed 18th at Malmo, and Mae Muller was second to last the previous year in Liverpool.
The Eurovision grand final took place in the St Jakobshalle arena in Basel, Switzerland, with the winner from among the 26 performing nations decided by a mix of public voting and points from national juries.
The four-hour-long show was presented by an all-female team – stand-up comedian Hazel Brugger, TV presenter Michelle Hunziker and Eurovision veteran Sandra Studer.
There were performances by previous Eurovision runners-up Croatia’s Baby Lasagna and Finland’s Kaarija, as well as last year’s winner Nemo during the night.
Image: KAJ perform Bara Bada Bastu for Sweden. Pic: AP
Sweden had been widely tipped to win with their sauna-themed entry Bara Bada Bastu (Just Sauna), but ended up coming fourth.
Ukraine, who have made a strong showing each since they first entered the competition in 2003, and who won in 2023, came ninth.
Last year protests and politics overshadowed the singing event amid the outbreak of war in Gaza, with some calling for Israel to be kicked out of the contest.
Last year also saw Dutch singer Joost Klein kicked out of the competition by the EBU over alleged verbal threats to a female production worker, which he denied.
Next year’s competition, Eurovision’s 70th, will be held in Austria.
A second man has been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent after an incident at a London nightclub that allegedly involved US singer Chris Brown.
The Metropolitan Police said Omololu Akinlolu, 38, will appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.
Better known by his stage name HoodyBaby, the American rapper has been charged in connection with an alleged assault at the Tape nightclub in central London in February 2023.
Brown, 36, was charged on Thursday with grievous bodily harm with intent and was remanded in custody by judge in Manchester until 13 June.
He is accused of attacking music producer Abraham Diaw with a bottle during the incident in February.
During a hearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Friday, Brown watched intently as brief details of the case against him were outlined by prosecutor Hannah Nicholls.
She accused Brown of committing “an unprovoked attack with a weapon in a nightclub full of people”.
Brown spoke to confirm his name and date of birth, but did not enter a plea.
He will appear for a plea and trial preparation hearing in London on 13 June.
Brown – known for hits such as “Loyal”, “Run It” and “Under the Influence” – was arrested at a hotel in Manchester in the early hours of Thursday by detectives from the Metropolitan Police.
The Grammy Award-winning singer was due to tour the UK in June and July, with dates in Manchester, Cardiff, London, Glasgow and Birmingham.