Stormzy has broken his silence after he came under fire for collaborating with McDonald’s and was accused of deleting a pro-Palestine post from social media.

The rapper, 31, was accused of ‘selling out’ after starring in a major campaign for the fast food giant, despite McDonald’s facing calls for boycotts over its links to Israel.

Fans had noticed an Instagram post in which Stormzy publicly supported Palestine in 2023 no longer appears on his feed, prompting speculation – without proof – that he deleted it before signing the lucrative deal.

Following the backlash, Stormzy took to his Instagram Stories on Friday to set the record straight as he denied allegations he deleted the post for the partnership.

He clarified that he did not in fact delete the post but archived it along with many others on his page and insisted he doesn’t work with brands who tell him what to do.

‘Hey guys, I wanted to address some twisted narrative that has been circulating online this past week,’ he penned.

Stormzy (pictured) has broken his silence after he came under fire for collaborating with McDonald’s and was accused of deleting a pro-Palestine post from social media 

‘Firstly, I didn’t archive the post where I came out in support of Palestine for any reason outside of me archiving loads of IG posts last year. 

‘In that post, I spoke about #FreePalestine, oppression and injustice and my stance on this has not changed.

‘The brands I work with 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.’

Stormzy, whose full name is Michael Ebenazer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr, said he felt the need to put out a statement because people were ‘hurt’ by the news circulating.

He went on: ‘I’m writing this because I know there are people out there who have supported me and rooted for me who are genuinely confused and hurt by what they think has happened and I want to give those people clarity so I hope this helps. 

‘I understand it must feel disappointing and disheartening when it seems like someone you’ve championed has compromised their beliefs for commercial gain but this isn’t the case here.

‘Social media and the internet quickly pᴀss judgment without full context. While I want to continue to be open and honest, I prefer not to respond immediately to every misunderstanding or clear up every false narrative that surrounds my name. Lots of love, Stormz.’

The rapper, 31, was accused of ‘selling out’ after starring in a major campaign for the fast food giant, despite McDonald’s facing calls for boycotts over its links to Israel

Following the backlash, Stormzy took to Instagram on Friday to set the record straight as he denied allegations he deleted a pro-Palestine post from Instagram for the partnership

Last week, fans had accused Stormzy of abandoning his principles after they noticed his pro-Palestine post had disappeared from his Instagram amid his McDonald’s partnership.

Even former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had waded into the controversy amid the online backlash, branding Stormzy’s partnership ‘hugely disappointing’.

His McDonald’s collaboration, called The Stormzy Meal – which includes nine chicken nuggets, fries, BBQ dips, a Sprite Zero, and an Oreo McFlurry or apple pie – launched earlier this month. 

The backlash stemmed from growing calls to boycott McDonald’s after its Israeli franchise announced it was providing free meals to the IDF. 

Amid the partnership, fans had also noticed that several of Stormzy’s Instagram posts had disappeared, including one from 2023 where he voiced his support for Palestine.

The post’s caption included the words: ‘I hope everyone is good, some fleeting thoughts. 

‘1. Free Palestine. 2. In the future, if there is ever a clear injustice in the world no matter how big or small, 100 times out of 100 I will always be on the side of the oppressed. Unequivocally. As I always have been.’

Stormzy clarified that he did not in fact delete the post but archived it along with many others on his page and insisted he doesn’t work with brands who tell him what to do

It comes after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) had waded into the controversy amid the online backlash, branding Stormzy’s McDonald’s partnership as ‘hugely disappointing’ 

Stormzy has now clarified that it only disappeared from his Instagram page because he had archived many of his old posts.

On Thursday, Jeremy Corbyn publicly urged Stormzy to sever ties with McDonald’s, releasing an open letter through the Peace & Justice Project. 

‘Stormzy’s decision to partner with McDonald’s allows them to culture-wash their reputation as caterers of genocide in Gaza,’ it read, before calling on him to ‘stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people’ by ending his deal.

The letter also encouraged fans to write directly to Stormzy’s management team, urging him to drop McDonald’s.