Update: slowthai has issued an apology to host Katherine Ryan for his behavior at the 2020 NME Awards.
(2/2) 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.
— tyron. (@slowthai) February 13, 2020
Comedian Ryan also posted her own statement on the incident.
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
Earlier this evening at the NME Awards, Northampton rapper slowthai was involved in an altercation that ended with him being escorted from the venue. Fan-posted video from the event appears to show slowthai — real name Tyson Frampton — telling an audience member they had “ruin[ed his] speech” for the 'Hero Of The Year' award, before throwing his microphone into the crowd. The video depicts the crowd throwing the microphone back, resulting in slowthai pouring out his drink, throwing his glass into the crowd, and jumping off the stage into the audience in an attempt to fight the person he was arguing with. NME states that this led to slowthai being “escorted from the stage” by security.
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
It is unclear as to why the altercation began; a video posted from earlier in the evening appears to depict slowthai telling host Katherine Ryan that she is “jealous,” and asking her to “smell [his] cologne,” to the chagrin of audience members and co-host Julie Adenuga. The FADER will update this story as it develops.
this nigga slowthai wilinnn #NMEAwards2020 pic.twitter.com/f5eBiJgD7M
— chairman (@ChairmanBuoy) February 12, 2020
The FADER has reached out to slowthai’s representatives for comment.
More to come.