The Northampton rapper was criticised for his lewd comments and behaviour towards host Katherine Ryan
slowthai was held back by security after getting into a brawl at last night’s NME Awards in London. The incident happened after an audience member called the Northampton rapper a “misogynist” due to his lewd behaviour towards awards host Katherine Ryan.
According to reports in Metro and The Guardian, and video footage from the night shared on social media, slowthai made sexual innuendos towards Ryan on-stage while collecting his award for Hero of the Year. “Smell my cologne, smells good don’t it?” he said before leaning in to seemingly kiss her cheek.
After being pushed away, he continued: “Baby girl, I don’t want to have to do this to you right now. But everybody, she needs to understand the levels right now. If you want to do something, see me later. She wants me to tend to her flowers. You ain’t never had no one play with you like that. Stop playing with me.”
A male crowd member shouted that slowthai was a “misogynist”. The rapper responded by saying, “Thank you for ruining my speech. Thank you very much.” He then threw his microphone at him. After the mic was thrown back, slowthai threw his drink, jumped off-stage, and had to be held back by security during the brawl.
Katherine Ryan batted slowthai’s comments away with humour. Later, on Twitter, she wrote: “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.” In a reply, she added: “He was fine. I’m the kind of woman he can say whatever he likes to! He’s fun.”
On the night, slowthai also won the award for Best Collaboration with his song “Deal Wiv It”, recorded with Mura Masa.
slowthai apologised for the incident on Twitter earlier today. Tagging NME in a post, he wrote: “Please forward my award to (Katherine Ryan) 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.”
He added: “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, Ii am sorry. I promise to do better. Let’s talk here.”
Watch footage from the event below.