Clara Amfo Nails Why People Are Wrong To Criticise Stormzy Over Notting Hill Carnival Tweets

'When you're accustomed to privilege, equality feels like discrimination.'
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Radio 1 DJ Clara Amfo has spoken out in support of Stormzy, who was one of many Twitter users to criticise a post from the Metropolitan Police on Monday (22 August).

In their tweet, the Met told their followers that they had “seized what is believed to be a kilo of uncut heroin in Catford”, linking the raid to next weekend’s Notting Hill Carnival, which takes place 10 miles away from the South East London drugs bust.

As many Twitter users mocked the post, Stormzy took a more serious stance, asking: “How many drugs did you lot seize in the run up to Glastonbury or we only doing tweets like this for black events?”

How many drugs did you lot seize in the run up to Glastonbury or we only doing tweets like this for black events? https://t.co/v7XYvSg29t

— #GSAP (@Stormzy1) August 22, 2017

While the grime star received a lot of support and praise for his comments, some critics weren’t happy with the fact he mentioned race - which led to Clara to post this string of tweets explaining why Stormzy had a point:

Genuinely incredible but not surprising how many people chose to be purposely obtuse because @Stormzy1 a black man, wrote "black event". https://t.co/xRWMGpCNnO

— Clara Amfo (@claraamfo) August 23, 2017

He never said "blacks only" because it is so very obvious he didn't mean that. Notting Hill Carnival was started by W.I. black peopleđŸ€ŠđŸŸâ™€ïž

— Clara Amfo (@claraamfo) August 23, 2017

It's a celebration of their culture that clearly EVERYONE is a welcome to. Black people are the bloody heartbeat of CarnivalđŸ€—hence it being

— Clara Amfo (@claraamfo) August 23, 2017

...as Stormzy put it "a black event". Predictably Mr X of Xtown on here, who is probs the type think "black people have a chip on their

— Clara Amfo (@claraamfo) August 23, 2017

shoulder" "always talking about race" "doesn't see colour" etc is SO salty about a young black guy who is a) enjoying an glorious career

— Clara Amfo (@claraamfo) August 23, 2017

..but more importantly b) "dared" to speak on the insidious racism that fed that headline. Mr X can stay swirling in his willfull ignorance.

— Clara Amfo (@claraamfo) August 23, 2017

đŸ€—đŸ€—đŸ€— pic.twitter.com/ePeY300Zqv

— Clara Amfo (@claraamfo) August 23, 2017

In the past year, Stormzy has hit headlines thanks to both his success in the music world, and his eagerness to speak out on political and social issues.

“We are urging the authorities to tell the truth, first and foremost, to do something, first and foremost, and we are urging the Government to be held accountable,” he told the thousands of fans who were in the crowd.

Stormzy at Glastonbury
Stormzy at Glastonbury
Shirlaine Forrest via Getty Images

He later contributed an original verse to a charity cover of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’, during which he was heard rapping: “I refuse to forget you. I refuse to be silenced. I refuse to neglect you.

“As for every last soul up in Grenfell, even though I’ve never met you, that could be my mum’s house. That could be my nephew.

“That could have been me up there, waving my white plain tee up there, With my friends on the ground trying to see up there. I just hope that you rest and you’re free up there.”

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