Stormzy calls Grenfell Tower fire ‘dark stain on British society’ on third anniversary of disaster
‘We’re here, we’ve got you, we’re not letting this go,’ rapper said
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Your support makes all the difference.Stormzy shared an emotional tribute video to the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire three years after the devastating event which killed at least 72 people.
On the third anniversary of the fire (14 June), the “Blinded By Your Grace” musician, who famously called out then Prime Minister Theresa May for her response to the disaster at the 2018 Brit Awards, appeared in a film by Grenfell United to commemorate the event and send love to those still affected by the fire.
“Today marks the third anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire and I said I was just going to put the camera on and just talk from my heart instead of trying to prepare anything,” Stormzy said, explaining that he “didn’t want this to sound like it came from anywhere other than my heart.”
“To all the people of Grenfell, we’re still mourning with you, so to anyone watching this let’s use this time, let’s use today to stand in solidarity with them and say that we ain’t forgotten you. We love you, we’re here for you.
“When the governments and powers that be have turned their back on you, we’re here. We’re here, we’ve got you, we’re not letting this go,” he continued.
“Because as much as my life’s moved on, your life’s moved on, unless you had someone in that fire who you directly lost, whether it was your family, our lives have moved on but that is still a dark reality that these people have to face all the time.
“To the people of Grenfell, I’m so upset that this pandemic is the reason we can’t be together today. You inspire me because you have managed to remain so resilient in the face of the darkest tragedy that people should never experience."
In a later clip, the rapper continued: “It’s become my duty, and everyone else’s duty, to make sure we never forget this.
“Let this be a constant reminder, let this be a constant dark stain on British society in terms of that many lives lost and the world kept moving. There’s not been any justice. Let that be a constant reminder.”
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Stormzy was joined in the Grenfell United video by Sadiq Khan and Adele, with the “Hello” singer holding back tears during an emotional video message.