Michael Gove has faced an online backlash after tweeting Stormzy lyrics, with some accusing the Cabinet minister of “sanctioning stereotypes” and others wondering whether it was possible to die of second-hand embarrassment.
Gove responded to the rapper’s support for
Labour leader
Jeremy Corbyn by claiming the grime artist is “a far, far better
Rapper than he is a political analyst”.
It’s worth remembering Stormzy was hailed for wearing a stab vest painted with a monochrome Union Jack during his headline set at the 2019 festival.
When shadow education secretary Angela Rayner later tweeted “Michael Gove is crap at both”, Gove responded: “I set trends dem man copy.”
The tweet was a direct quote from Stormzy’s 2015 hit Shut Up, but received thousands of reactions, many of them negative.I set trends dem man copy https://t.co/85mTHXaZDn— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) November 26, 2019And Conservative MEP and Brexiteer Daniel Hannan appeared to agree, tweeting in reply: “Big man ting!”Big man ting!— Daniel Hannan (@DanielJHannan) November 26, 2019The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has been inundated with replies urging him to stop.
Labour’s David Lammy accused the Tory minister of “sanctioning crass stereotypes” by “telling an intelligent, successful young black man to stay out of politics”.Michael Gove sanctioning crass stereotypes after telling an intelligent, successful young black man to stay out of politics. Challenge stereotypes, don't compound them. https://t.co/awYCXkQfZm— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) November 26, 2019The
Tottenham MP added: “Challenge stereotypes, don’t compound them.”
Paul Bernal, an associate professor of law at the University of East Anglia, said: “This is the
Twitter equivalent of blackface.” This is the Twitter equivalent of blackface. By @MichaelGove. pic.twitter.com/qjiXYQnCvh— Paul Bernal (@PaulbernalUK) November 26, 2019Stormzy is one of a number of rap artists who have stated their backing for Corbyn at the general election.What’s the difference between Michael Gove & Stormzy? One is a decent role model for our youth enabling them to aspire to great things, the other took class A illegal drugs & made a mess of reforms to the education system, locking out many young talented ppl. #GeneralElection19— Angela Rayner 🌈 (@AngelaRayner) November 26, 2019In a post on
Instagram encouraging fans to register to vote, last year’s Glastonbury headliner wrote: “I will be registering to vote and I will be voting for Jeremy Corbyn.
“There are several reasons as to why I’m voting for him – I would be here all day if I began to list them…but in my 26 years of life I have never trusted politicians or relied on them to be the bearers of hope and righteous people that we’ve needed them to be.”
Akala, Kano and Professor Green also voiced their support as a campaign by the group Grime 4 Corbyn went viral on social media. View this post on InstagramA post shared by @stormzy on Nov 25, 2019 at 11:10am PSTIn Tuesday’s interview with Talk Radio, Gove said: “I think we again know that Stormzy, when he took to the stage at Glastonbury wearing a stab vest, he made clear what his political views were then.
“He is a far, far better rapper than he is a political analyst.”Not going to quote tweet Michael Gove but worth remembering that a Corbyn remix of Stormzy's "shut up" track (permitted by the rapper) from the 2017
election has been viewed nine million times.His tweet has the potential to backfire spectacularly.— Theo Usherwood (@theousherwood) November 26, 2019Silly little man Gove. Cringe factor set to ten.— john robb (@johnrobb77) November 26, 2019The Conservative Party has been contacted for a response to criticism of Gove’s tweet.Related... Michael Gove Dismisses Stormzy As A 'Far Better Rapper Than Political Analyst'