Tory leader hopeful Robert Jenrick has urged the Premier League to drop their association with rapper Wretch 32 after he made “untrue” claims about the Chris Kaba shooting that was ‘poisoning’ communities.
Wretch 32 has recently worked with the Premier League for its ‘No Room For Racism’ campaign, with the rapper producing a song for the league.
But he has kicked off controversy after claiming Chris Kaba was targeted in an “assassination” when he was fatally shot by a police marksman.
Scott said that the Met were “good at villainising a person.”
Chris Kaba was shot dead by a police officer
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Robert Jenrick said: “This self-appointed ‘community leader’ does not speak for the country, who mourn Chris Kaba’s victims. He has peddled blatantly untrue and misleading claims that poison our communities.
“The Premier League should drop all association with him.”
The rapper, whose real name is Jermaine Scott, sparked outrage when he gave an interview to Sky News where he added that he would “obviously like to pay my respects and hope that we get some justice for Chris Kaba and his family.”
Police Sgt Martyn Blake was found not guilty of murder by jurors at the Old Bailey on Monday after a three-week trial.
He was charged after the incident in September 2022 when Kaba was shot as he tried to force his way out of an enforced stop.
Presenter Kay Burley asked Scott if he thought justice had been done, with the rapper responding: “I don't think justice has been done. The police, they’re good at villainising a person and turning people against a person and then using that to feel like they can go into any scenario and execute a person without any repercussions.
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The rapper sparked outrage when he gave an interview where he added that he would “obviously like to pay my respects and hope that we get some justice for Chris Kaba and his family"
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“They talk about split second moments in scenarios, stop and searches, or ‘hard stops’ as they call them. But these things are planned, they are detailed operations - and you're trained and you go through - which I would hope in due process to get to that point where you're able to be on the field.
“And for you to be a trained professional, it doesn’t allow you to assassinate someone, to execute someone. I don’t understand how we get to that point.
“And only until there’s some form of independent judicial system, are we going to be able to see justice. Because if the police are policing the police, we're never going to get the results we want.”
Neil O’Brien, a Tory MP and former minister, told GB News that Wretch 32’s comments showed “total contempt” for the courts and legal processes.
“The Premier League have decided to associate themselves with this man and on this particular issue. They have lent their authority to him, but his attacks on our independent judiciary are unfair and baseless.
Robert Jenrick said: “This self-appointed ‘community leader’ does not speak for the country, who mourn Chris Kaba’s victims"
PA
“The league has put him in a position of leadership and he is using that to push incredibly inflammatory and divisive claims which have been, decisively rejected in court. He is treating our courts with total contempt.”
Wretch 32 is collaborating with the league on its anti-discrimination campaign and has supported footballers who want to ‘take the knee’ before kick off.
Announcing his link with the league, Scott said: “Music and football are two of my biggest passions, so to bring them together and write this track in support of the Premier League’s No Room For Racism initiative means a lot to me. It’s more than just a song – it's a statement about unity, equality and the power of community.
“Through music and sport, we have a unique platform to connect with people, inspire change and amplify important conversations about inequality. I’m proud to use my voice to contribute to that.”
The Premier League was contacted for comment.
