British rapper and drill artist Stormzy has responded to criticism over his new partnership with McDonald’s, denying claims that he has compromised his pro-Palestine stance or removed content from social media to align with the deal.
The musician is featured in McDonald’s UK’s latest campaign, promoting the ‘Stormzy Meal’, a selection of his favourite menu items. However, the collaboration has sparked backlash from fans who pointed out the fast food giant’s ties to Israel—notably that McDonald’s Israel provided free meals to Israeli forces during their invasion of Gaza. This led to calls for a global boycott of the restaurant.
After posting about the partnership on Instagram, Stormzy faced questions and disappointment from supporters who accused him of prioritising commercial gain over his activism. In response, he issued a statement via his Instagram story, saying:
I understand it must feel disappointing and disheartening when it seems like someone you’ve championed has compromised their beliefs for commercial gain.” The rapper insisted, however, that “this isn’t the case here”.
Stormzy has been vocal in support of Palestine since the Israeli bombardment of Gaza began in October 2023, previously posting “Free Palestine… if there is ever a clear injustice in the world, no matter how big or small 100 times out of 100 I will be on the side of the oppressed” on Instagram and condemning the injustice faced by Palestinians. However, fans noticed that the post is no longer visible on his profile, sparking speculation that it was deleted to avoid controversy with McDonald’s.
Addressing concerns over the missing post, Stormzy stated:
“I didn’t archive the post where I came out in support of Palestine for any reason outside of me archiving loads of posts last year.”
He insisted his stance has not changed, reaffirming:
“I spoke about #FreePalestine, oppression and injustice and my stance on this has not changed.”
The rapper also rejected claims that corporate influence played a role in his actions, stressing that he remains independent in his business decisions, and they “can’t tell me what to do and don’t tell me what to do otherwise I wouldn’t work with them. I do my own research on all brands I work with, gather my own information, form my own opinion and come to my own conclusion before doing business.”
