Rapper criticized for holding up 'severed head of Boris Johnson' at awards ceremony

A British rapper has apologised after he was seen carrying an effigy of Boris Johnson's severed head on stage at the Mercury Prize ceremony.

Rapper Slowthai, 24, said waving a model of PM's head while rapping 'f*** Boris Johnson , f*** everything' was intended as 'art'. He talked about modern British life as he mentioned he wants 'to wife' Kate Middleton and calls the Queen 'a c***'.

Slowthai, whose real name is Tyron Kaymone Frampton, defended himself and said the lyrics was not 'inciting violence'. He told Sun Online: "The reaction's hilarious - it shows people's ignorance. They want to call it terrorism or inciting violence and that's not what it was. "It wasn’t inciting violence, it was just making a point about democracy being killed.  "There's no badness. There's no threatening behaviour towards Boris. I just said 'f*** him'." However, his stunt had caused unintended offence and confusion and he said he's 'hundred per cent' sorry about it.

His performance has been blasted by some politicians. Mark Francois, MP for Rayleigh, said: "Personally, I think holding up a purported severed head of the Prime Minister is extremely distasteful, and I think most fair-minded people would think likewise."

Slowthai was nominated for his album 'Nothing Great About Britain' which mentions the monarchy and democracy. But he lost out to south London rapper Dave, who won the title for his debut album, Psychodrama.