A video clip in which million selling singer Ed Sheeran is seen rapping about a “fagotty man” has been pulled from the internet.
The Irish Mirror is reporting that a film made of Sheeran in 2011 has been pulled from the Internet because it contains deeply offensive, homophobic words.
In the “freestyle” rap battle with fellow artist Devlin, Sheeran is reportedly heard to say,
“Yo, I freestyle to the faggoty man.”
He continues: “I go on the bus and I sleep for a day, then I come back and they’re like, Ed, you look like this gay.”
He adds: “These guys are safe they’re not gay mans.”
The video is thought to be shot in late 2011.
A spokesperson from Ed’s label, Warner Music, said,
“Ed was sending up rappers who make homophobic remarks. He is clearly not homophobic.”
According to The Mirror, a spokeperson from Stonewall said,
“It’s important to think about the words you choose to use, as what some people see as ‘banter’ can have a negative and lasting effect.”
In 2013 former X FACTOR winner James Arthur released a rap in which he used words like “queer”. He said:
“Some of the things said in this rap can be mistaken for homophobic slurs and I assure you homophobia is something I do not believe in’”.
The artist was dropped by his label, SYCO, shortly after.
