Grime star Stormzy compares himself to Shakespeare after 'troll' criticises his lyrics

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 13: Stormzy attends the 2019 Global Citizen Prize at the Royal Albert Hall on December 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Global Citizen)
Stormzy attends the 2019 Global Citizen Prize at the Royal Albert Hall on December 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Global Citizen)

Stormzy has compared himself to William Shakespeare while defending lyrics and language used in his songs after they were criticised by someone he referred to as “a troll”.

The 26-year-old has continuously hit headlines in the past 18 months, with many praising his stance on his views on issues such as knife crime and racism.

However, praise for the star has been far from universal, with some questioning the language Stormzy has used in his songs.

Read more: Stormzy says he was a 'hood rat' and that 'trouble was normal' growing up

Katharine Birbalsingh, of Michaela Community School in Wembley, said of the grime star: ‘There will always be alternative music, but with words like b****es and sl**s, and . . . calling mothers wh***s.

“That is simply encouraging black self-hatred.”

She went on to say it would be better for kids to learn “how to recite Shakespeare or listen to Mozart rather than Stormzy”.

But Stormzy was unhappy with the comments and suggested Katharine is a ‘troll’ while being interviewed in the US by Charlamagne Tha God last week.

He said: “You say, ‘Let’s learn about Shakespeare’ but Shakespeare has stories of bloodbath and murder. I always say, ‘I am as positive as Shakespeare, I’m as negative as Shakespeare’.”

Portrait of William Shakespeare from the title page of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays; copper engraving by Martin Droeshout, 1623. One of the earliest portraits of Shakespeare. (Photo by GraphicaArtis/Getty Images)
Portrait of William Shakespeare from the title page of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays; copper engraving by Martin Droeshout, 1623. One of the earliest portraits of Shakespeare. (Photo by GraphicaArtis/Getty Images)

Discussing the Bard, he continued: “Let’s get out his stories now and go through them. Romeo And Juliet, bruv, they poisoned . . . I don’t know what criminal act that falls under but that’s not righteous, like poisoning and rivalries, houses .

Read more: Stormzy lands Noughts & Crosses role

“If we got up Shakespeare stories one by one and went through them . . . I might not want my kid to know about Macbeth and all the bloodbaths and the darkness of it.”

Stormzy also discussed his split from Radio 1 DJ Maya Jama, after the pair split in August last year.

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 13:  Maya Jama and Stormzy attends\ the Elle Style Awards 2017 on February 13, 2017 in London, England.  (Photo by Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/WireImage)
Maya Jama and Stormzy attends\ the Elle Style Awards 2017 on February 13, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/WireImage)

It would appear he would like to reconcile with Jama if she would have him back.

He said: “I would love to be the man who she needs, I would love to do all the things that make this work.

“I want to marry her. I want to have her children.”