Skepta has responded to an old photograph of himself posing with an Israeli flag, saying the image was not intended as a political statement.
The photo dates from the time of the MC’s first ever show in Tel Aviv in 2007, and earlier today (August 15), he responded to a post that re-shared the image.
“Keep seeing this pop-up on my timeline kmt I was young and naive,” he wrote. “First ever show in Tel Aviv and thought I’d gas up my fans with this picture but this picture is not a political statement in anyway.”
Keep seeing this pop-up on my timeline kmt I was young and naive. First ever show in Tel Aviv and thought I’d gas up my fans with this picture but this picture is not a political statement in anyway 😖 https://t.co/3dh1ohXlmT
— Big Smoke – (@Skepta) August 15, 2026
The rapper has previously expressed his support for Palestine, including in May 2021, when he responded to a social media post asking the question “Tell me something good”, to which he replied: “FREE PALESTINE”.
In 2024, he faced criticism over his collaboration with PUMA because of the company’s sponsorship of the Israeli Football Association. “Ain’t gonna lie, I’ve realised it’s a lot more than reading the small print before signing contracts,” he said at the time. “Gotta do your due diligence and yes I am forever a student in practice to eventually take the independent route.”
Ain’t gonna lie, I’ve realised it’s a lot more than reading the small print before signing contracts, gotta do your due diligence and yes I am forever a student in practice to eventually take the independent route. Love Abid🧘🏿♂️ https://t.co/LSDXj83NYF
— Big Smoke – (@Skepta) May 19, 2024
Also in 2024, he removed the original artwork for his single ‘Gas Me Up (Diligent)’ after it received criticism for evoking images of Jewish prisoners in Nazi concentration camps. He explained that the imagery was part of an album campaign inspired by his parents moving to the UK in the 1980s.
“I can promise you that was definitely not our plan so I have removed it and I vow to be more mindful going forward,” he said.
In April, Skepta released the house-influenced EP ‘Más Tiempo Vol. 2’ and revealed he was putting the finishing touches to his forthcoming album ‘Fork And Knife’. That record still does not have a release date, but it will be the follow-up to his 2019 album ‘Ignorance Is Bliss‘.
He is due to play at Reading & Leeds later this month, and last night (August 14), he played at Sziget Festival in Budapest. In NME‘s round-up, we wrote: “Whenever an artist starts their set with one of their biggest songs, you know you’re probably in for a stacked performance. That certainly was true of Skepta’s main stage show last night, which kicked off on an instant high with ‘Shutdown’.”
