LGBT Conservatives tried to shame Stormzy for his past use of homophobic slurs, but it majorly backfired
Rapper and Labour supporter Stormzy hit back at the LGBT Conservatives’ attempt to resurface his previous use of homophobic slurs by pointing out Boris Johnson’s own unapologetic use of anti-gay rhetoric.
New voter registration spiked by an incredible 236 per cent the day after the grime artist officially endorsed the Labour Party. The vast majority of these registrations were people under the age of 25, a demographic that typically vote Labour.
Likely fearing the ‘Youthquake‘ of young voters heading to the polling stations, the LGBT+ arm of the Conservative Party attempted to discredit Stormzy by highlighting his anti-gay tweets from 2011, which he has profusely apologised for.
“Stormzy?” they asked, alongside the facepalm emoji and screenshots of Stormzy’s homophobic slurs.
Stormzy? ?♂️ https://t.co/zVIEq6Fk9o pic.twitter.com/mh75RVt9Vz
— LGBT+ Conservatives (@LGBTCons) December 12, 2019
The tweets were originally brought to light two years ago. The day after they resurfaced, Stormzy quickly issued an extensive and unreserved apology for his use of homophobic language.
He was widely praised for the “mature” and “sincere” apology, which acknowledged the hurt his words caused to the LGBT+ community and reassured fans that he had “unlearned” these views as he’d “grown up and become a man”.
The comments I made were unacceptable and disgusting, full stop. Comments that I regret and to everyone I’ve offended, I am sorry, these are attitudes I’ve left in the past. The homophobic language I used was, embarrassingly, a part of my vocabulary when I was younger and…
— HEAVY IS THE HEAD (@stormzy) November 22, 2017
Again, I’m sorry to everyone I’ve offended. To the LGBQT community and my supporters and friends, my deepest apologies ??
— HEAVY IS THE HEAD (@stormzy) November 22, 2017
In contrast, Conservative leader Boris Johnson has repeatedly refused to apologise for referring to gay men as “tank-topped bum boys” and same-sex marriage as a union between “three men and a dog”.
Ahead of the election Johnson was again asked by PinkNews if he would apologise – the third time in total he has been asked to do so. Johnson declined, instead repeating: “I’ve written many millions of words in my time as a journalist, and I’ve never intended to cause hurt or pain to anybody.”
Stormzy was quick to point this out to LGBT Conservatives in a tweet that echoed their own. Oops.
LGBT+ Conservatives? ??♂️ https://t.co/sroMNvRvMx pic.twitter.com/v9XoEQ4Pce
— HEAVY IS THE HEAD (@stormzy) December 12, 2019
Twitter users were clearly loving the drama, noting that the comparison wasn’t exactly favourable to the Conservatives.
LOOOOLLLL OYA you tried ?????????
— The Gladfather (@toneegladwell) December 12, 2019
Stormzy’s apology for comments made in his youth are brilliant example of how to react humbly and honestly when you’ve gotten it wrong. Attached so you can learn something.
Where’s the apology from @BorisJohnson for homophobic and racist comments made WHILE HE WAS IN OFFICE?
? pic.twitter.com/B7ndNz9iBI— Rob Holley ? (@robholley) December 12, 2019
He discussed and apologised with more grace and dignity than Boris ever did or is still to do
— stephen (@CpnRad) December 12, 2019
he apologised and has obviously changed, unlike your leader. You disgust me.
— Anthony ? (@anorderlymess) December 12, 2019
At 26, he’s grown and matured more in 8 years than Boris in the last 18 yrs. Both are on public record . SEE FOR YOURSELF
— loki (@cyphaloki) December 12, 2019
I generally was then sitting here debating who to vote for you just hit the nail on the head for me thank you @LGBTCons DONT EVER DISS MY MAN STORMZY #FUCKBORIS
— Tyrone….Pd (@Tyrone_PD) December 12, 2019
26 year old musician who apologised & grew vs. a 55 year old politician yet to do so. LGBT conservatives… clowns
— beth mccoll (vote labour) (@imteddybless) December 12, 2019
pic.twitter.com/NZjmbjCQhc
— ?VOTE LABOUR OR AM DIE ????? (@ChantayyJayy) December 12, 2019
Enough said.