Music
16 Jun 23

U.K. rapper Slowthai denies two charges of rape

slowthai at Longitude 2019. Sunday 7th of July. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault. For help or advice about rape, sexual assault or domestic abuse, visit drcc.ie, or call the National 24-hour helpline at 1 800 77 8888.

U.K rapper Slowthai has pleaded not guilty to two charges of rape. The 28-year-old, whose real name is Tyron Frampton, is accused of raping a woman twice on September 8 2021.

Mr. Frampton appeared in front of Oxford Crown Court alongside co-defendant Alex Blake-Walker, 25, who pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and two sexual assaults.

Mr. Blake-Walker is accused of sexually assaulting the woman in the same incident. He is also accused of raping and sexually assaulting a second complainant.

Judge Michael Gledhill KC released the two defendants on conditional bail until their trial, set to take place in July 2024.

Slowthai was recently removed from several festival lineups, including Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, as well as Dublin’s Forbidden Fruit Festival.

The English rapper was set to tour the U.K. and Europe this Summer, after releasing his most recent album, UGLY, in March. His second album, Tyron, reached number One in the U.K. album charts in 2021. Slowthai has previously received Grammy and Mercury Prize nominations.

For help or advice about rape, sexual assault or domestic abuse, visit the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre website, or call the National 24-hour helpline at 1800 77 8888.