Grime artist Wiley forfeits his MBE for ‘bringing the honours system into disrepute’

Grime artist Wiley has forfeited his MBE for “bringing the honours system into disrepute”, the Cabinet Office has announced.

The decision comes four years after the rapper caused outrage with a number of antisemitic remarks.

The musician, whose real name is Richard Cowie and who is often referred to as the Godfather of Grime, was honoured for his services to music in the December 2017 New Year Honours list.

Over several days beginning 24 July 2020, Wiley published a string of antisemitic tweets in which he compared Jewish people to the Ku Klux Klan and perpetuated racist conspiracy theories.

The rapper and producer wrote: “There are 2 sets of people who nobody has really wanted to challenge #Jewish & #KKK but being in business for 20 years you start to understand why … Red Necks Are the KKK and Jewish people are the Law... Work that out.”

He also described Jewish people as “cowards and snakes”.

He was widely condemned for his posts on social media, including anti-Jewish posts on X and an Instagram video where he said “crawl out from under your little rocks and defend your Jewish privilege”.

The grime artist was permanently suspended from Twitter following the remarks, and was also banned from Facebook and Instagram.

Wiley has since apologised for “generalising” but denied being racist.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement for Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Antisemites like Wiley must understand that we will work tirelessly to hold them to account. For four years, we have worked to ensure that Wiley faces ruinous consequences for his unhinged antisemitic tirade, for which he has shown no remorse. Today’s decision is a vindication of that effort.

“We commend the Honours Forfeiture Committee for using its powers to make clear that anti-Jewish racists cannot be role models in our society and will be stripped of their honours. Receiving an honour is not a one-time thing: it carries an ongoing responsibility to set an example to others.

“Due to technical reasons, including legal action that we continue to pursue against Wiley, the forfeiture was delayed. We are grateful to the Honours Forfeiture Committee for its work on this matter.”

Wiley told Sky News in the wake of his tweets: “I’m not a racist, you know. I’m a businessman. My thing should have stayed between me and my manager, I get that.”

The 41-year-old grime artist also said that he will hand back his MBE. “Take it back. I’ve never had it in my possession except for a picture outside Buckingham Palace,” he claimed.

He continued: “Now who’s the MBE for, really? Don’t think I was sitting there like ‘Where’s my MBE? Where’s my OBE? I need my knighthood. Where’s my Richard Branson? No.”

The Independent has approached Wiley’s representatives for comment.

The rapper’s former manager John Woolf, who is Jewish, “cut ties” with Wiley following the remarks.

The musician became known for combining rap with the prominent garage music scene of the 90s as well as Drum and Bass, resulting in some of the first ever grime beats, such as “Eskimo”.

His first taste of success came with garage collective Pay As U Go before forming the Roll Deep entourage which included future stars Dizzee Rascal and Tinchy Stryder.

One of his most well-known tracks is “Heatwave”, which became a summer anthem in August 2012 when it topped the UK singles chart.

In 2017 he was honoured at the NME Awards with an outstanding contribution to music award and returned to his grime roots with “Godfather”.