Earlier today, NME released a preview of its latest front cover, featuring Stormzy talking about depression under the headline "It's Time to Talk".
Stormzy then tweeted this back at the magazine.
@NME You lot are a bunch of real life fucking pussyholes. Proper dickheads. We've had a good relationship before this, why do you think
Stormzy accused NME of using him on the front page of the issue, which is devoted to the sensitive topic, without his permission.
I KNOW it will help others but just imagine a personal battle of yours being published on the front of a magazine without your permission
@NME it is a subject that isn't the easiest thing to speak about. And I've been careful in how I've dealt with it in the media
@NME However using my face as a poster boy for it to sell your magazine is so foul and below the belt I will never respect you lot
Stormzy had previously spoken to Channel 4 News about his depression, saying: “What convinced me to talk about it was the fact that if there’s anyone out there going through it, I think for them to see what I went through it would help."
He accused the magazine of using him on the front cover when he said he had previously refused to do so.
@NME the reason I'm so angry is because NME have been begging me to be on their cover. I have refused. Then they do this.
@NME again, my issue is not about me speaking out about it. That is fine and I'm happy I'm able to help but they've been very foul here
NME has responded to Stormzy, apologising and saying that its only aim was to create awareness of an important issue, rather than "shift copies".
@Stormzy1 Our only intention was to raise awareness of an issue that we’ve been inspired to talk about following your comments...
@Stormzy1 I'm really sorry this has happened. We're a free magazine and were not trying to shift copies, just talk about something important
Stormzy responded:
DEAD. You're NOT a non-profit organisation. The more copies you dish out the more you charge for advertising. You w… https://t.co/F3nslCsIne
UPDATE: NME has officially apologised for using Stormzy on their front page without his permission. Editor-in-chief Mike Williams told BuzzFeed News in a statement:
"We were inspired by Stormzy’s words and wanted to use them as a springboard to talk about depression and how it shouldn’t be taboo. NME’s only intention was to raise awareness for an issue that it had been inspired to talk about following Stormzy’s comments, we sincerely apologise to Stormzy for using his image to promote this topic on the cover without his knowledge, our intentions were only positive.
"We have spoken with a number of high-profile personalities to gather their stories and advice, as well as mental health charities CALM and YoungMinds to make sure the advice offered was on message. We wanted to raise awareness of something important.”