Grime artist Wiley’s management company says it has dropped him over antisemitism accusations – and Twitter has banned him for seven days.
The firm, A-List Management, has “cut all ties” with the British musician, 41, following a series of social media posts made on accounts belonging to him, his manager John Woolf said.
Wiley, known as the Godfather of Grime and whose real name is Richard Cowie, posted a screenshot on Instagram, showing he had been given an hours-long Twitter ban.
But he was back online later on Saturday morning, and after he resumed tweeting, he was given a seven-day ban from the platform.
He also posted a video on Instagram in which he said “crawl out from under your little rocks and defend your Jewish privilege”.
However, Twitter was accused of “ignoring antisemitism” because the tweets were still visible 12 hours after they were first posted on Friday. Some have now been removed.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism has asked police to investigate the content and called for Wiley’s accounts to be shut down “to prevent further outpouring of anti-Jewish venom”.
Mr Woolf, who is Jewish, wrote on Twitter: “Following Wiley’s antisemitic tweets today we at @A_ListMGMT have cut all ties with him. There is no place in society for antisemitism.”
He had earlier said he did not support or condone what Wiley posted but that he would speak to him privately and “help educate him”.
However, in a video on Instagram, Wiley appeared to say it was him who had cut ties with his management.
One post on an unverified Twitter account in Wiley’s name, which Mr Woolf confirmed belongs to the star, read: “I would challenge the whole world of Jewish community on my own I am not scared I can handle them.”
May 2019 – Wiley: ‘My father gave me the gift of music’
The social media site has been criticised for allowing the tweets to remain visible.
Labour MP Jess Phillips said: “Just seen all the Wiley stuff. Why on earth have @Twitter left up such blatant antisemitism and hatred? It hits all the dangerous beats, Jews get things you don’t get, they are in control, they think their better… This is dangerous stuff. Surely it should come down.”
Wiley received an MBE for services to music in 2018
Fellow MP Neil Coyle added: “His management appear able to act quicker than @Twitter emphasising, once again, that legislation (including the Online Harms Bill) should ensure social media platforms are not used to spread hate.”
Wiley received an MBE for services to music in 2018.
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The Campaign Against Antisemitism said it would be contacting the Cabinet Office to ask that Wiley’s award is revoked.
In January, Wiley brought Stormzy’s mother into an online feud between the two British rappers, threatening to “rip that weave off her head” in a new track.
Wiley criticised Stormzy for working with Ed Sheeran on their single, Own It, the first number one of 2020.