Slowthai sorry for ‘shameful’ comments to Katherine Ryan at NME Awards

Rapper Slowthai has apologised to comedian Katherine Ryan after causing controversy at the NME Awards.

The 25-year-old was accused of making “lewd comments” to Ryan, who was hosting the awards, after he won the Hero of the Year gong on Wednesday night. He later threw his drink into the crowd and confronted a member of the audience.

During the ceremony, Slowthai, real name Tyron Frampton, asked Ryan to smell his cologne and referred to her as “baby girl”.

As he left the stage, the comedian joked, “Thank you, Mike from Love Island” – adding that he is “younger than my babysitter”.

The musician has now apologised to Ryan and urged NME to redistribute his award to her.

Writing on Twitter, Slowthai said the comedian “is the hero of the year”.

He continued: “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.”

In a second post, he called Ryan a “master at your craft” and said: “Next time I’ll take my seat and leave the comedy to you.”

Ryan, 36, responded: “I knew you were joking and congratulations on your very award-worthy album! I hope you know that a bad day on social media passes so quickly. Everything will be better tomorrow. Xx.”

NME also replied to Slowthai’s tweet, saying: “We’ll take you up on this @slowthai. Keep an eye on the post @Kathbum.”

Last night, Ryan said that the rapper had not made her “feel uncomfortable” and that she “defused” the situation.

During the event, Slowthai was also embroiled in a row with an audience member after a comment appeared to anger him.

Footage posted from the evening on social media showed a spectator speaking to the British star before he threw his drink into the crowd.

Moments later, he jumped down to argue with the person before being restrained by security.

In a statement posted on its website, a spokesperson for NME said: “The safety of all attendees and presenters is and always will be our number one priority. We want everyone at our events to have a good time and feel comfortable.

“We would like to extend our thanks to our incredible hosts Katherine Ryan and Julie Adenuga for making it a brilliant night. We have accepted Slowthai’s proposal to forward his fan-voted Hero Of The Year award to Katherine.

“Katherine – keep an eye on the post!”

Slowthai previously hit the headlines in September when he held up an effigy of Boris Johnson’s severed head at the Mercury Prize ceremony.

After stripping to the waist during his track Doorman, the rapper grabbed the fake head from the floor and held it aloft, shouting: “F*** Boris Johnson. F*** everything.”

At the time, Mr Johnson laughed it off, saying the rapper had actually said “back Boris” but was let down by the acoustics.

Slowthai was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize for his debut album Nothing Great About Britain, which casts a critical eye over life in modern UK.

(c) Sky News 2020: Slowthai sorry for ‘shameful’ comments to Katherine Ryan at NME Awards