British rapper Stormzy has addressed growing criticism over his recent collaboration with McDonald’s, firmly denying claims that he deleted a pro-Palestine social media post because of the partnership.
The 31-year-old artist, who launched the “Stormzy Meal” with McDonald’s earlier this month, took to Instagram on Friday to reject accusations linking his social media activity to his commercial work. In an Instagram story, Stormzy dismissed speculation surrounding the alleged deletion of a pro-Palestine post, clarifying that the post was archived as part of a broader clean-up of his Instagram page last year.
“Firstly, I didn’t archive the post where I came out in support of Palestine for any reason outside of me archiving loads of IG posts last year,” Stormzy wrote. He reiterated that his views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remain unchanged: “In that post, I spoke about #FreePalestine, oppression and injustice, and my stance on this has not changed.” Stormzy emphasized his independence when working with brands, stating: “The brands I work with can’t tell me what to do and don’t tell me what to do—otherwise, I wouldn’t work with them. I do my own research, gather my own information, form my own opinion, and come to my own conclusion before doing business.”
The rapper said he chose to speak out to address confusion among his supporters: “I know there are people out there who have supported me and rooted for me who are genuinely confused and hurt by what they think has happened, and I want to give those people clarity.”
The backlash began after McDonald’s Israel, operated by a local franchisee, announced it was providing free meals to Israeli soldiers amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas. The move sparked calls for boycotts from pro-Palestinian activists across the globe.
In response, some McDonald’s franchisees in the Middle East, including McDonald’s Oman, pledged donations to relief efforts in Gaza. McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski addressed the controversy in a LinkedIn post, stating: “We abhor violence of any kind and firmly stand against hate speech, and we will always proudly open our doors to anyone.” Stormzy’s collaboration with McDonald’s also drew criticism from the Peace and Justice Project, founded by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. The group described the partnership as “hugely disappointing.”
Stormzy, who publicly endorsed Corbyn in the 2019 general election and has consistently criticized the Conservative Party, addressed these concerns directly in his statement, saying: “I understand it must feel disappointing and disheartening when it seems like someone you’ve championed has compromised their beliefs for commercial gain, but this isn’t the case here.”
Despite his clarifications, public backlash persisted. Photos circulated online showing stickers reportedly placed at McDonald’s drive-thrus in London, reading: “We regret to inform you that Stormzy has sold out. Apologies for any disappointment.”
The controversy comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, with both sides continuing the exchange of hostages and prisoners. The broader conflict has intensified global conversations on corporate responsibility and celebrity endorsements during geopolitical crises.
McDonald’s has yet to issue an official statement regarding the backlash tied to Stormzy’s partnership.
