ITV has amended its own misleading headline on an article about Stormzy’s views on
racism in the UK.
The grime rapper, 26, discussed the topic during an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica.
Asked whether the
UK was still a racist country, he said: “Definitely, 100%. It’s like: ‘Oh no, we’re not racist’. But there’s a lot of racism in the country.
“The difficult thing with the UK is, as you said, in
Italy it’s a clear problem, whereas trying to explain that
Britain is a racist country is the most difficult thing ever”.
Unfortunately ITV, among other publications including Sky News, The Standard and The Sun, published a headline that read “Rapper Stormzy says UK is ’100 per cent’ racist”.
Following widespread online backlash, ITV swiftly posted a correction on Sunday: “Yesterday we reported on an interview with Stormzy in an Italian newspaper who, when asked if the UK was a racist country, he said: “Definitely, 100%.” We have now made this clear in the headline on our original story”.
This comes after Stormzy accused the media of “intentionally spinning (his) words” after he said he believed the UK was still a racist country.
Stormzy responded to a number of news reports in a tweet on Sunday morning, expressing frustration with being misquoted.
He told the media outlets “please don’t try beg it in the future”, meaning that from now on they should not ask him for any favours.Update: Yesterday we reported on an interview with Stormzy in an Italian newspaper who, when asked if the UK was a racist country, he said: "Definitely, 100%."We have now made this clear in the headline on our original story.— ITV News (@itvnews) December 22, 2019Stormzy, who backed
Labour in the last
election, said
Boris Johnson was a “figurehead” whose comments encouraged “hate among others” in the UK.The prime minister has been criticised for using racially-charged or offensive language, including describing the
Queen being greeted in Commonwealth countries by “flag-waving piccaninnies” and then-prime minister Tony Blair being met by “tribal warriors” with “watermelon smiles” while on a trip to the Congo.
Stormzy said: “If the top person can openly say this racist thing – the ‘piccaninnies’ remarks, ‘watermelon smiles’, comparing Muslim women to a letter box.
“If that is our figurehead, the top man, the leader we have to follow, and he openly says these things, he encourages hate among others.” Related... Stormzy Accuses Media Of 'Deliberately Spinning His Words' After Comments About Racism In UK Stormzy Accuses Boris Johnson Of 'Encouraging Hate In Others' Piers Morgan Goes Head-To-Head With Stormzy Over Boris Johnson Criticism To School Kids