Rapper Slowthai apologises for ‘vile’ awards show outburst

He won ‘Hero of the Year’ at the NME Awards. This rapper’s ‘vile’ behaviour once he got on stage has some calling for his arrest.

British rapper Slowthai has been slammed for his behaviour at the NME Music Awards in London, behaving inappropriately to a female presenter before leaping into the crowd and attacking an audience member.

The 25-year-old star, who landed a UK top 10 with his debut album in 2019, appears in two shocking clips from the award ceremony currently being shared on social media.
In the first, Slowthai is on stage to accept the award for ‘Hero of the Year’ — but instead appears to proposition comedian and presenter Katherine Ryan.

Katherine Ryan. Picture: Neil P. Mockford/Getty

Slowthai. Picture: Neil P. Mockford/Getty

“You got jealous, innit? She got JEALOUS EVERYBODY! Smell my cologne,” the visibly inebriated rapper jeers.

“What is happening? What is the protocol for this situation?” another woman on stage asks as Slowthai hangs off Ryan.

“Babygirl, I don’t want to have to do this to you right now … if you wanna do something, see me later. Ayyy, she wants me to tend to her flowers!”

Katherine Ryan and Slowthai on stage. Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

As the rapper walks off stage, Ryan returns fire: “You are like, the hottest guy I’ve ever seen. I am so thirsty for your c**k. Thank you for the attention. Let’s hear it for him, he’s so hot! So hot! I’m so wet I’m going to slip off these stairs any minute, oh my god! He’s amazing!”

Watch the startling footage below — warning, it’s NSFW:

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY VILE AND DISGUSTING. HOPE THIS GUY GOT ARRESTED. HE HAD JUST WON HERO OF THE YEAR. #NMEAwards2020 #NMEAwards #slowthai pic.twitter.com/uvJXpuDmco

— James 🚀 (@JamesDelamare) February 12, 2020

Responding to the online outrage after the event, Ryan downplayed the incident, explaining that she “defused” the situation as she would any heckler:

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

Slowthai himself has today tweeted an apology for his behaviour, asking that event organisers forward his ‘Hero of the Year’ award to Ryan instead:

.@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

“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,” he continued.

NME responded to the tweet: “We’ll take you up on this @slowthai. Keep an eye on the post @Kathbum.”

In another clip from the event, Slowthai’s mood appears to have worsened. The footage itself is pretty chaotic but according to eyewitness reports, one audience member in the front row had booed the rapper, calling him a “misogynist” for his earlier onstage behaviour.

“Thank you for ruining my speech," Slowthai says, throwing his microphone into the audience.

Someone then throws it back at him — and all hell breaks loose, Slowthai leaping from the stage and attacking the audience member:

#Slowthai you ok hun ? #NMEAwards2020
pic.twitter.com/oZyoEy8MjO

— Jack Hardwick (@jackhardwick93) February 12, 2020

Fans watching at home wondered if today’s behaviour would be a career-ender for the rising rapper:

slowthai waking up tomorrow to his twitter notifications pic.twitter.com/tFfuaAo2uz

— TG (@TG1876_) February 12, 2020

Slowthai looking at himself in the reflection of his 8th pint: pic.twitter.com/UMuTqNyS3H

— AJ (@masiavelli) February 12, 2020

Slowthai sexually harassed Katherine Ryan and then tried to assault someone in the crowd after being called out for misogyny... immediately after winning “Hero of the Year” at the NME Awards. Vile. I’m disappointed.

— Ben Gray (@heybengray) February 12, 2020

has slowthai just ended his career? pic.twitter.com/lU7g6m7IYF

— séan (@_Sean7_) February 12, 2020

beyond disappointed and let down by slowthai, would never have expected misogyny from him in a million years

— murran (@formidabIecooI) February 12, 2020

Teenage boys 🤝 Slowthai’s career

Finishing quickly

— Emily (@Echarlottexo) February 12, 2020

if anything, tonight proved slowthai is transitioning into the enemy he used to ridicule in his songs: wealthy dickheads who put women in uncomfortable situations and then try to intimidate anyone who speaks up about it

— herglo (@ethanherlo) February 12, 2020

And, somewhere in among all this NME Awards chaos — Taylor Swift!

T-Swift wins Best Solo Act in the World. Picture: Dave J Hogan/Getty

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