Stormzy did not remove an Instagram post advocating for Palestinian liberation due to his recent collaboration with McDonald’s, according to sources close to the rapper. The 31-year-old grime artist has faced criticism for deleting an earlier post that stated “Free Palestine” after partnering with the fast-food chain. However, insiders have informed Sky News that the “archiving” of his Instagram post is “simply not true” in relation to the McDonald’s campaign.
Stormzy’s collaboration with McDonald’s features his “go-to” order as a limited meal option, known as “The Stormzy Meal,” which includes chicken nuggets, fries, BBQ sauce, a Sprite, and an Oreo McFlurry. Critics of Israel had previously called for a global boycott of McDonald’s after the company’s Israeli branch announced donations of free meals to Israeli Defense Forces troops during the conflict in Gaza, which impacted McDonald’s sales.
Sources close to Stormzy clarified that the removal of his “Free Palestine” post was part of a broader “mass archiving effort” last year and was “categorically not” connected to his work with McDonald’s.
The now-deleted Instagram post included a message expressing his commitment to standing with the oppressed in the face of injustice. Following the deletion, many fans expressed disappointment, accusing Stormzy of hypocrisy. One critic on social media remarked that he appeared to have deleted the post for financial gain, while the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) highlighted the significance of his earlier support for Palestinian freedom amidst ongoing conflict.
