The festival says Slowthai’s fashion choice on Saturday “caused confusion” with some festival-goers who may have misunderstood the T-shirt’s message. The issue arose after photos and videos were posted online of the 27-year-old rapper, born Tyron Frampton, performing in Osheaga wearing a shirt depicting the word “destroy” over a swastika. Various Jewish groups responded to the images being circulated, including the US-based Stop Antisemitism, who called it “appalling” and questioned why Osheaga staff did not ensure Frampton was “immediately removed from the stage”. While the pic.twitter.com/WGp8RwkvRy —@CanadianFSWC The design is a variation on “Destroy”, a controversial look created in the 1970s by fashion artist and activist Vivienne Westwood in collaboration with visual artist Malcolm McLaren. In the design, a pink swastika appears in a red circle with an upside-down image of Jesus on the cross superimposed. An inverted stamp of Queen Elizabeth is hidden in the corner. A statement released by Frampton apologized to “anyone who was offended by me wearing an anti-racist/substitution t-shirt and the use of the symbol it represents.” “I want you to know that I stand firmly against anti-Semitism and racism of any kind, which the t-shirt was intended to depict with the word ‘destroy’ above the symbol,” he added. pic.twitter.com/YrWZW1jIFz —@osheaga The Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs urged Frampton to consider that the intention to call out fascism is lost if it is “perceived quite differently by those who see it”. “Nazi imagery is not a fashion statement,” the organization said. “It should not be used as a gimmick for attention or a vehicle for publicity.” Osheaga added in her statement: “We sincerely apologize to anyone who misinterpreted this message and felt hurt.”
