Rapper Slowthai held up a model of Boris Johnson’s severed head as he performed at Thursday night’s Mercury Prize ceremony.
The 24-year-old shouted: “F*** Boris Johnson! F*** everything! And there ain’t nothing Great about Britain!” – a reference to the name of his award-nominated album ‘Nothing Great About Britain’.
The audience at the Eventim Apollo in London gave the artist - real name Tyron Kymone Frampton – rapturous applause as he left the stage with the head, following his performance of ‘Doorman’.
Awards host Lauren Laverne then addressed them, saying: “Slowthai, with his own views there.”
The artist’s Instagram account later posted a photo of him posing with the faux severed head in a “F*** Boris” T-shirt, which he’s now selling on his online store.
He is one of 12 acts whose work was shortlisted for the 2019 Mercury Prize. The night’s winner was rapper Dave for his album ‘Psychodrama’.
Among the judges was Stormzy, who raised his own profile by criticising then prime minister Theresa May during his performance at the Brit Awards in 2018.
Additional reporting by agencies
