Wiley, a trailblazer in the grime music scene, has had his MBE revoked due to his actions that “brought disrepute to the honours system.” An official statement on the Cabinet Office’s website confirmed this decision.
In 2020, Richard Cowie, also known as Wiley and 45 years old, sparked controversy and backlash when he made an anti-Semitic statement on social media. He claimed that there are two groups of people who have not been challenged before: the Jewish community and the Ku Klux Klan. He also stated that the KKK is equivalent to “rednecks” and that Jewish people hold power as the law. Later, he apologized for making generalizations and for speaking outside of his work environment after a disagreement with his Jewish manager. However, he did not take back his comments and denied being racist.
In 2021, a Twitter account created under his name shared antisemitic material, such as a video titled “The Influence of Jewish Figures in Hiphop and Mainstream Black Music”. Twitter (now known as X) quickly banned the account permanently.
In that same year, he faced accusations of assault and burglary for reportedly trespassing into the residence of his friend and fellow kickboxer, Ali Jacko. The next year, authorities in the London neighborhood of Newham circulated a wanted poster for Cowie, stating that he had not shown up for a scheduled court appearance regarding the alleged crime.
Wiley received his MBE in 2017 and expressed, “It feels like achieving the school grade I always wanted but never got, and now I have finally reached it.”
He gained recognition for his successful and highly praised music career as both a producer and rapper. He is credited with creating grime, a unique form of British rap music, and successfully bringing it into the mainstream. He also explored other styles and achieved several Top 10 hits, such as Wearing My Rolex, Reload, and the chart-topping Heatwave. In 2019, he made a comeback with the release of Boasty, featuring Idris Elba and other artists.
Source: theguardian.com
