Grime star Wiley loses MBE over anti-Semitism

British grime artist Wiley has been stripped of his MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) award after making a series of anti-Semitic remarks on social media.

Wiley, whose real name is Richard Kylea Cowie Jr., was awarded the MBE in 2018 for his services to music. However, in July 2020, he posted a series of tweets and videos that included anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and comments, leading to widespread condemnation and calls for action.

Following the backlash, Wiley was dropped by his management and banned from Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The UK government also launched an investigation into his conduct.

As a result, it has now been announced that Wiley’s MBE has been revoked. A spokesperson for the Cabinet Office stated, “The honours system is apolitical and honours are awarded on the basis of merit. The decision to revoke the honour of Mr Cowie was approved by the Queen.”

Wiley’s anti-Semitic remarks have sparked a conversation about the prevalence of hate speech and the responsibilities of public figures to act responsibly on social media.