British rapper slowthai has sparked controversy after holding up a replica of Boris Johnson’s severed head at the Mercury Prize ceremony.
Brandishing the dummy head at the end of his performance on Thursday night, the 24-year-old shouted: “Fuck Boris Johnson, fuck everything and there ain’t nothing great about Britain.”
The stunt was met with rapturous applause from the audience at the Eventim Apollo in London.
After the rapper left the stage, Lauren Laverne – who was hosting the awards ceremony – said: “Slowthai, with his own views there.”
The performer later posted a photo of himself holding up the Johnson effigy to advertise his “Fuck Boris” T-shirts.
It comes two years after US comedian Kathy Griffin was dropped by the broadcaster CNN after she posed with the fake decapitated head of Donald Trump.
Slowthai had been nominated for the prize for his debut album, Nothing Great About Britain.
However, the award was given to rapper Dave for his album, Pyschodrama.