Stormzy’s Controversial Partnership
Stormzy has faced backlash over a “perverted narrative” following his decision to delete the missing posts after his deal with McDonald’s came to an end.
Last month, it was revealed that the rapper collaborated with McDonald’s for the British and inaugural food expansion in Ireland, allowing fans to enjoy his favorite menu items along with a limited Merch series.
The collaboration launched on February 12 and has attracted considerable criticism due to the perceived endorsement of the fast food giant. The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement publicly supported a global boycott after McDonald’s provided thousands of complimentary meals to Israeli forces following the Hamas attack on October 7.
Stormzy Addresses Backlash
Stormzy, who has previously shown his support for Palestine by performing at a benefit concert to raise funds in January 2024, faced scrutiny after fans noticed he deleted a post made in October 2023, where he stated: “1. Free Palestine. 2. In the future, if in the world when there is a clear injustice, no matter how large or small, 100 times out of 100 I will always be on the side of the oppressed. Definitely. As I have always been.” This prompted backlash from fans.
In response, he took to his official Instagram account to clarify the criticism he received. “Hello guys. I want to address any distorted narrative that has circulated online last week. Firstly, I did not archive the post where I expressed my support for Palestine for reasons that are not within my control; archiving many IG posts last year was a personal decision. This has not changed,” he stated.
He elaborated, “The brands I collaborate with cannot dictate my actions, nor do they. If they did, I wouldn’t work with them at all. I conduct my own research on the brands I work with, gather my own information, form my own opinion, and arrive at my own conclusion before entering into any business agreements.”
“I’m writing this because I know there are people who defended me and praised me, who are genuinely disappointed and hurt by what they perceive has happened, and I want to provide clarity. I understand it can be disappointing when it seems that someone you supported has compromised their beliefs for commercial gain, but that is not the case.”
He concluded his statement with, “Social media and the internet can spread information quickly without proper context. While I strive to remain open and honest, I prefer not to respond immediately to every misunderstanding or to clarify every false narrative surrounding my name. Much love, Storm.”
Jeremy Corbyn’s “Peace and Justice” project was among those who criticized the partnership, issuing an open letter on February 13, urging the rapper to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people at this critical moment and respect the BDS committee’s call for a global boycott of McDonald’s by ending his new partnership.
“Dear @stormzy, help us remove the genocide from the menu … “
We urge Stormzy to stand with the Palestinian people and respect @BdsmoVement as they call for a boycott of McDonald’s by ending his new partnership with them.
✍ Write to him: https://t.co/ix7hikd8fi pic.twitter.com/fhtgnrffi6
– Project of Peace and Justice (@corbyn_Project) February 13, 2025
McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski previously denied that the corporation took sides in the conflict, labeling the boycotts as “disappointing and evil” and attributing them to “disinformation.”
In other news, in November, Stormzy announced a renewed partnership with Adidas for the next phase of the #MERKY Football Careers initiative, aimed at launching a new online platform to assist Black youth in finding career opportunities in football.
https://www.nme.com/news/music/stormzy-addresses-twisted-narrative-following-claims-he-deleted-pro-palestine-posts-after-mcdonalds-deal-3840340?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=stormzy-addresses-twisted-narrative-following-claims-he-deleted-pro-palestine-posts-after-mcdonalds-deal
