Stormzy says Oxford University rejected his scholarship scheme for black students

Speaking at the launch of his book, Rise Up: The #Merky Story So Far at the Barbican Centre in London, Stormzy claimed the scholarship programme, which has now been taken up by Cambridge University, was originally turned down by Oxford University.

Attending the event on Wednesday, Journalist Dan Hancox, who has written extensively on grime, tweeted:

“Tonight at the Barbican Stormzy revealed that the much-discussed scholarship he's funding at Cambridge Uni was first proposed to Oxford University, and they told him to get lost?! Incredible.”

Tonight at the Barbican Stormzy revealed that the much-discussed scholarship he's funding at Cambridge Uni was first proposed to Oxford University, and they told him to get lost?! Incredible.

— Dan Hancox (@danhancox) November 7, 2018

Known together as Oxbridge, Cambridge and Oxford have been criticised for not ensuring the application process is easily accessible to non-white students. The rapper’s scholarship will pay for two black students to attend Cambridge.

Stormzy has drew praise for his political activism in tackling social injustice. At this year’s BRIT Awards, a gnarly Stormzy took home the awards for Best British Male and Album. That evening, his performance caused a stir after he declared: “Theresa May, where’s the money for Grenfell? You think we forgot about Grenfell?” he said, before attacking the Daily Mail on a mainstream ITV broadcast.

Watch the rousing performance below: