slowthai exits NME Awards after altercation with audience member

At last night's NME Awards, slowthai exited the premises after an altercation with an audience member, according to NME.

During an acceptance speech for the fan-voted "Hero of the Year" award, he told an audience member, "Thank you for ruining my speech", before dropping his microphone into the crowd. After someone threw the microphone back at him on stage, slowthai jumped into the crowd and was subsequently escorted from the stage by security guards.

The altercation followed an on-stage interaction with co-host and comedian Katherine Ryan that many have classified as sexual harassment. After the show, Ryan tweeted that his actions did not make her feel uncomfortable.

He didn’t make me uncomfortable.
This is why we need women in positions of power. I knew he had lost from the moment he opened his mouth like any heckler coming up against a COMIC - not a woman - a COMIC. I was operating 2/10. What a sweet boy. I defused it.
Tonight was fun! ❤️ https://t.co/BBMPZpIvhy

— Katherine Ryan (@Kathbum) February 13, 2020

Upset fans have taken to Twitter to express their frustration with slowthai's actions.

Tonight @slowthai tried to preach about equality for all, then attempted to assault a woman live on stage... and then when confronted by a member of the crowd, proceeded to throw a drink at them. That’s one way to peak and ruin your career all in one night. #NMEAwards2020

— Lauren Xx (@laurenxoanne) February 12, 2020

See videos of the incident below. slowthai has not yet commented.

It’s just kicked off at the NME Awards #Slowthai 😬 just after he won hero of the year #NMEAwards2020 pic.twitter.com/rKmUOXSuhB

— Vinesh (@V1nesh) February 12, 2020