Stormzy achieved a BRIT Awards double this week, picking up accolades for British Male Solo Artist and Best British Album before closing the ceremony with a performance that took aim at Prime Minister Theresa May and the Daily Mail.
He has since shared a petition on Twitter, urging May to take action in the Grenfell Tower inquiry.
The grime MC beat Ed Sheeran, Liam Gallagher, Loyle Carner and Rag’n’Bone Man to pick up his first award, later winning the biggest award of the night despite tough competition from Dua Lipa and Sheeran.
With rain falling, Stormzy called out May and the Mail during his performance, delivering the lyrics in a new freestyle, “Theresa May where’s the money for Grenfell? / What you thought we just forgot about Grenfell?” and suggesting that the Daily Mail “suck my dick”.
The freestyle came during the performance of his hits ‘Blinded By Your Grace’ and ‘Big For Your Boots’.
.@Stormzy1 won two #Brits awards tonight. Here is his absolutely chilling performance. So fucking moving. pic.twitter.com/6IGitLqjDj
— vic sanusi (@victoriasanusi) February 21, 2018
Downing Street has since responded to Stormzy’s comments:
NEW: In response to @Stormzy1 #BRITs2018 comments, Number 10 says £58.29m has been committed to Grenfell survivors, rehousing and community. If there are concerns about distributing of funds, govt will listen, spox says, but has accepted initial response to fire was too slow.
— Jessica Elgot (@jessicaelgot) February 22, 2018
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In case this isn't obvious, the £58m is not a response to Stormzy. It is what the government pledged after the fire and at the Budget.
— Jessica Elgot (@jessicaelgot) February 22, 2018
Stormzy’s definitive performance was widely praised online, with one Twitter user writing: “Stormzy using his platform to call out important issues such as Grenfell Tower (and telling the Daily Mail to suck one) is exactly how it should be done.”
Others called the star the “people’s champ” and “this country’s biggest asset, musically and politically”.
See more reactions below.
Stormzy using his platform to call out important issues such as Grenfell Tower (and telling the Daily Mail to suck one) is exactly how it should be done. #BRITs
— Sean (@seanhendrie) February 21, 2018
Wins 2 x Brits and then disses Theresa May & Daily Mail.
Stormzy = People’s Champ
— Adé Akins (@ImAdeAkins) February 21, 2018
STORMZY CALLING OUT MAY FOR GRENFELL AND DAILY MAIL I LOVE YOU MAN
— Carla Devine (@CarlaDevine1) February 21, 2018
Stormzy just sang “Theresa May, where’s the money for Grenfell? You think we forgot about Grenfell?” live on stage at the #BRITs.
He is this country’s biggest asset, musically and politically.
— Shelly Asquith ? (@ShellyAsquith) February 21, 2018
After the ceremony, Stormzy tweeted: “Love you all, thank you, thank God, emotional, overwhelmed, speechless…gonna go have a drink and party with my family”.
Love you all, thank you, thank God, emotional, overwhelmed, speechless…gonna go have a drink and party with my family ❤️
— #MERKY (@stormzy) February 21, 2018
The grime MC has now shared a petition on Twitter, which urges May to take action in the Grenfell Tower inquiry. “Bereaved families & survivors call on PM to exercise her powers under the Inquiries Act 2005 to appoint additional panel members with decision making power to sit alongside Chair in Grenfell Tower Inquiry: to ensure those affected have confidence in & are willing to fully participate in the Inquiry,” reads the petition‘s summary.
“This needs 100,000 signatures if you could please sign, share, RT and spread the word on it,” tweeted Stormzy on Friday (February 23). The petition has 32,212 signatures at the time of writing.
This needs 100,000 signatures if you could please sign, share, RT and spread the word on it. https://t.co/zpSE3qy2bq ??❤️
— #MERKY (@stormzy) February 23, 2018
The 38th BRIT Awards were held at London’s O2 Arena on Wednesday evening (February 21). Stormzy and Dua Lipa took home big awards on the night.
Stormzy won British Male Solo Artist and Best British Album, as well as delivering a triumphant closing performance.
Dua Lipa, meanwhile, took home Female Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act. Presented her first award by Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown and Kylie Minogue, Lipa said during her acceptance speech: “I want to thank every single female that has been on this stage before me and has given girls like me a place to be inspired by and [someone to] look up to and allow us to dream. Here’s to more women on these stages, winning these awards and taking over the world.”
Little Mix presented the British Male Solo Artist award to Stormzy, who said: “Thank God, that’s the reason why I’m here to do what I do”.
Foo Fighters picked up Best International Group, their fifth BRIT Award to date. Dave Grohl paid tribute to the UK in his acceptance speech.
Rag’n’Bone Man won Best British Single for ‘Human’. He thanked “everyone back in Brighton” and “everyone who has had my back over the years”.
International Male Solo Artist went to Kendrick Lamar, beating Drake and Beck.
Dua Lipa picked up her second award of the night in the form of British Breakthrough Act. She brought her younger brother and sister onto the stage with her and told fans to “believe in magic”.
Lorde won International Female Solo Artist and sent a video message. Gorillaz won Best British Group.
Harry Styles took home British Artist Video of The Year for his ‘Sign Of The Times’ clip.
Stormzy won the biggest accolade of the night, picking up British Album Of The Year for ‘Gang Signs And Prayer’. During his acceptance speech, he said he put “everything” into the record, adding: “I didn’t have anything after.”