Boris Johnson jokingly claimed that the chant of “F**k Boris” that echoed across the Glastonbury stage during Stormzy‘s set was actually “Back Boris”.
The rapper’s set, which aired live on the BBC, saw the crowd chant along to the words “F**k Boris”, in reference to Johnson, the frontrunner to succeed Theresa May as the prime minister of the UK.
The statement is part of the lyrics to the rapper’s track “Vossi Bop”, released in April of this year, which sees him declare: “I’ll never die, I’m Chuck Norris/F**k the government and f**k Boris”.
Speaking after the Conservative Party’s leadership hustings in Carlisle, Mr Johnson joked that Stormzy was “thoroughly on message” and claimed he was actually singing “back Boris” – his campaign slogan.
Asked by about the performance, Johnson told PA: “I want to pay tribute to Stormzy –I am a great enthusiast and admirer of Mr Stormzy’s works and I think he’s one of the great lyricists and poets of our time.”
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Festival goer Jo stands among a tree feature as she arrives on the first day of Glastonbury 2019
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A collaboration billboard between Led By Donkeys and Cold War Steve is unveiled at the top of the park on the first day of Glastonbury 2019
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Festival goer Glammy Glitter wears her bejewelled Glastonbury hat as she arrives at the festival
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An overview of the scenes at Worthy Farm on Thursday 27 June, 2019
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Sheryl Crow serenades the crowds on a sun-soaked day at Worthy Farm on day three of Glastonbury
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George Ezra performs
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Bastille frontman Dan Smith performs on the Pyramid Stage
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Bastille frontman Dan Smith performs on the Pyramid Stage
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Stormzy performs in the headline slot on the Pyramid Stage on day three of Glastonbury
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Arcadia unveil their new stage design ‘Pangea’ during day three of Glastonbury
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Arcadia’s new stage design, Pangea, at Glastonbury Festival 2019
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Revellers enjoy the bonfire and fireworks in the Sacred Space at the end of the first day of Glastonbury Festival
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Festival goers warm up prior to the gates opening at 8am on the first day of Glastonbury 2019
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Festival-goer Penelope Gwen dances with LED hula hoops on the second day of Glastonbury Festival
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Festival goer Jo stands among a tree feature as she arrives on the first day of Glastonbury 2019
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A festival goer drinks from a beer bong prior to the gates opening at 8am on the first day of Glastonbury 2019
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A man in a pig onesie receives his wristband for the weekend as the gates open at Glastonbury 2019
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A collaboration billboard between Led By Donkeys and Cold War Steve is unveiled at the top of the park on the first day of Glastonbury 2019
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A man carts a wheelbarrow full of provisions for the weekend as he arrives at Glastonbury 2019
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Festival founder Michael Eavis takes a selfie with a festival goer as he greets arrivals to Glastonbury 2019
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Tents at the campsite on the second day of Glastonbury Festival
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A man arrives armed with his ReadyBed on the first day of Glastonbury 2019
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Festival goer Glammy Glitter wears her bejewelled Glastonbury hat as she arrives at the festival
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Arrivals cart their provisions for the weekend to their campsites on the first day of the festival
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England fans watch on at Glastonbury
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Sarah Adey and Jack Watney marry at Glastonbury on Thursday 27 June 2019
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Festival goers eat ice-cream during the Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, Britain, 27 June 2019.
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An overview of the scenes at Worthy Farm on Thursday 27 June, 2019
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Sheryl Crow serenades the crowds on a sun-soaked day at Worthy Farm on day three of Glastonbury
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George Ezra performs
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Bastille frontman Dan Smith performs on the Pyramid Stage
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Festival-goers watch Bastille perform at Glastonbury 2019
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Bastille frontman Dan Smith performs on the Pyramid Stage
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A festival-goer takes a drink in the West Holts area
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Crowds gather to watch Stormzy perform on the Pyramid Stage
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Stormzy performs in the headline slot on the Pyramid Stage on day three of Glastonbury
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Arcadia unveil their new stage design ‘Pangea’ during day three of Glastonbury
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Arcadia’s new stage design, Pangea, at Glastonbury Festival 2019
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“And I want to thank him for his rousing endorsement of the Back Boris campaign. Back Boris I think was what he said and there may have been some problem with the acoustics that caused him to be briefly misunderstood, but Stormzy seems to me to be thoroughly on message.”
Stormzy is known for utilising his live performances as a stage for political protest, including his memorable freestyle rap during last year’s Brit Awards, in which he condemned Theresa May for her response to the Grenfell tragedy.
“Yo Theresa May, where’s the money for Grenfell?” he asked. “What, you thought we just forgot about Grenfell? You criminals and you’ve got the cheek to call us savages/ You should do some jail time, you should pay some damages/ You should burn your house down and see if you can manage this.”
