Stormzy has played a surprisngly big role in the latest season of the U.K.'s X Factor. The grime MC assisted judge Nicole Scherzinger during the audition process and then on Sunday, October 29, he performed during the first live show of the season, delivering an epic version of “Blinded By Your Grace Part 2.”
His performance of the Gang Signs & Prayer single was not without controversy though. The original version of the song features MNEK on vocals. However, for the X Factor performance he was accompanied by Labrinth, an artist signed to X Factor boss Simon Cowell's Syco label. Unfortunately, MNEK did not appear to know about this and made his feelings clear on Twitter.
guys what do you do when youve come back from a date to find out that Labrinth was singing your song on X Factor instead of you? cos rn idk
— MNEK (@MNEK) October 29, 2017
shit's foul
— MNEK (@MNEK) October 29, 2017
Stormzy appeared on BBC Radio 1 on Monday and was asked about the change in vocalists. He told host Nick Grimshaw "I've spoken to MNEK and that was miscommunication from my side. We have got 3-4 big TV moments and I told MNEK I want to do it [the song] in so many different ways. Different ways to communicate it and formats. But that didn't get communicated to him. I fully understand but it's all love. We've sorted it out."
The FADER has contacted reps for Stormzy, MNEK, and The X Factor for comment.
