Stormzy forces record label boss who launched Ed Sheeran to quit after he blacked up at a party
GRIME star Stormzy threatened to quit his record label in a row over a top executive blacking up.
The Brit Award winner was said to be furious bosses failed to take action for a year.
Atlantic Records chief Ben Cook, 42, responsible for launching Ed Sheeran’s career, quit yesterday after admitting dressing up as a member of US rap group Run DMC for a birthday party in 2012.
A picture from the bash had first surfaced online last year. Well-placed senior sources said Stormzy, 26, made a stand by telling bosses at parent company Warner Music he would leave the label.
The rapper, whose hits include Vossi Bop and Blinded By Your Grace, is also said to have banned Cook from standing at the side of the stage during his headline gig at Glastonbury in June.
A source said: “When Stormzy found out what had gone on, and that he had been allowed to stay, he was furious.
“He stepped in and made it clear he would not be prepared to keep working with them if Ben stayed, and also that he might go public with the details of why.
“He clearly saw this as a major issue and felt he had a responsibility to use his influence to highlight it — and to ensure incidents like this are taken seriously.
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“He absolutely believes this was the right thing to do.”
In a statement yesterday Cook said: “While my intention was to honour a musical hero, I recognise my appearance was offensive and I made a terrible mistake.
“I am devastated this mistake has caused upset and has called into question my commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.”
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