The BBCPatrick Gibbs, QC, defending Sluthai, told the jury “Even if he is acquitted, it will not leave him. He will be disqualified for the rest of his life.”
As the guilty verdict was read out by the foreman, the rapper broke down in tears in the dock – he just Acquitted of three counts of rape After a three-week trial at Oxford Crown Court.
In that moment, most people in that courtroom, including the rapper’s friends and family, were focused on the relief and joy of those two words – “Not guilty.”
But in the coming weeks, Sluthai – whose real name is Tyrone Frampton – will begin to plot a course to overcome his “cancellation”, and become one of UK rap music’s hottest artists. will regain its status as one.
The rapper released his debut album in 2019.
He has since released two more critically acclaimed albums, including 2023’s UGLY – which received a five-star review from NME’s Thomas Smith, who named him one of the rappers. “The most exciting project to date from front to back”.
But shortly after the release of his third album, the Grammy-nominated rapper was. Accused of rape.
He was in a hurry. Removed from the Glastonbury Festival lineup.As well as readings and leads, soon after.
Fast-forward 18 months, and he’s been acquitted of those charges by a jury of his peers — and is now free to resume his music career.
Marcus Johnstone, a criminal defense attorney who specializes in sex crimes, explains: “Winning a criminal case [and being found not guilty] This is often not the end but the beginning of the real problem.”
“Celebrities especially experience ‘cancellation’ when they find themselves accused of a sex crime.”
“They go from hero to zero overnight.”
In predicting how Sluthai’s return might be achieved, it may be useful to look at similar cases.
In 2019, JLS star Ortsey Williams was accused of raping a woman in his hotel room after a concert in Wolverhampton.
Williams insisted in court that the encounter was – and was – completely consensual. Unanimously acquitted After just two hours of jury deliberations.
Two years later, JLS reformed for a 29-date comeback tour that saw the band perform to more than 350,000 people.
The musician, who has also released solo music since his acquittal, has seen his career go back, and possibly even surpass, since his trial five years ago.
PA MediaAt the other end of the spectrum is English singer-songwriter Rex Orange County.
He was a musician. Widely considered As a darling of modern indie music, and released Critically acclaimed albums which reached the top ten in both the UK and US charts before being charged. Six counts of sexual assault in 2022.
All charges against him were dropped later that year, but the singer decided to take a two-year hiatus from music – which began earlier this year. I ended with the release of his fifth studio album, The Alexander Technique.
The album failed to garner anywhere near as much interest as his previous efforts, though, spending just one week in the UK album chart and reaching just 151 in the US.
Despite clearing the charges, Rex Orange County has so far been unable to shake off his “cancelled” tag and restart his career.
The stories of Oritse Williams and Rex Orange County may guide what Sluthai does next with his career — but only the general public will determine the outcome of his return.
Marcus Johnstone says he feels there “might be some hope” for the Northampton-based rapper.
“It’s aimed at a certain demographic that may not see the need to ‘repeal’ it,” he says.
He added that Sluthai’s future songwriting “will be influenced by what she has endured”.
In his 2021 song Cancel, Sluthai asked: “How do you cancel me?”
“Said I wouldn’t come back, I must have cancer, it wasn’t long, then I made a comeback,” he raps on the song.
Sluthai will now be hoping that the comeback he predicted in a song three years ago will come to pass – or else he’ll be “how can you cancel me?” will be left to find the answer.