Organizers of Montreal’s Osheaga music festival are apologizing after a British rapper performed wearing a swastika T-shirt.
The festival says Slowthai’s fashion choice on Saturday “caused confusion” with some festival-goers who may have misunderstood the message of the shirt.
The issue arose after photos and videos were posted online of the 27-year-old rapper, born Tyron Frampton, performing in Osheaga wearing a T-shirt depicting the word “destroy” above a swastika.
Several Jewish groups responded to the footage circulating, including US-based Stop Antisemitism, which called it “horrific” and questioned why Osheaga staff did not ensure Frampton was “immediately removed off the stage.”
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—@CanadianFSWC
The design is a variation on “Destroy”, a controversial look created in the 1970s by fashion artist and activist Vivienne Westwood in collaboration with visual artist Malcolm McLaren.
In the design, a pink swastika appears in a red circle with an image of Jesus upside down on the cross superimposed. In the corner is a stamp of Queen Elizabeth on the reverse.
A statement released by Frampton apologized to “anyone who is offended by my wearing an anti-racist/anti-regime shirt and the use of the symbol it represents.”
“I want you to know that I am strongly against anti-Semitism and racism of any kind, which the shirt was intended to illustrate with the word ‘destroy’ above the symbol,” he added.
—@osheaga
The Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs urged Frampton to consider that the intent of calling out fascism is lost if “it is perceived in a completely different way by those who see it.”
“Nazi imagery is not a fashion statement,” the organization said. “It should not be used as a gimmick for attention or as an advertising vehicle.”
Osheaga added in his statement: “We sincerely apologize to anyone who misinterpreted this message and felt hurt.”