Grammy-nominated rapper Slowthai faces serious accusations following a performance in Oxford, with his defence focused on consent.

Grammy-nominated rapper Slowthai, born Tyron Frampton, has appeared in Oxford Crown Court, where he is accused of raping two women following a performance at The Bullingdon in Oxford in September 2021. Frampton, 29, faces three joint counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. Alongside him stands his co-defendant, Alex Blake-Walker, 27, who also denies the charges. The two men’s trial has garnered considerable attention, with the case’s outcome hanging on the issue of consent.

Frampton, known for his unapologetic and raw approach to rap, was a rising star before these allegations surfaced. His career had taken off with a Grammy nomination in 2021 and a Mercury Prize nomination in 2019. However, his future now hangs in the balance, as his reputation faces the scrutiny of a high-profile court case. Frampton arrived at court alongside his wife, the pop star Anne-Marie, who married him in secret in July 2022. Her presence in the courtroom highlights the personal stakes as the trial unfolds.

The prosecution, led by Heather Stangoe, has painted a stark picture of the events that allegedly transpired after Slowthai’s gig. According to the prosecution’s case, Frampton and Blake-Walker met a group of women before the show and provided some of them with tickets to attend the performance later that evening. After the gig, the women joined the rapper and his entourage on his tour bus, and the group later moved to one of the women’s homes.

Once inside, the women were allegedly told by Frampton that the rules for the evening were clear: “No phones and no boys.” The prosecution suggests that these conditions were set to ensure that the women could be isolated, with their sole purpose being to satisfy the men’s sexual desires. Stangoe argued that the men’s actions showed little regard for consent, stating that they cared “not for whether the women consented or not.”

At the house, the women were allegedly separated from their friends, with two of them being assaulted while the men joked and celebrated. The court was told that the attack ceased when the women’s friends intervened and demanded the men stop. Frampton, reportedly embarrassed, then jumped from a balcony-style roof and fled the house. The dramatic end to the alleged assault has left a lasting mark on both the victims and the legal proceedings.

However, Frampton’s defence team, led by Patrick Gibbs KC, has made it clear that consent is at the heart of the trial. Gibbs has urged the jury to consider the difference between thrilling and exciting consent in the heat of the moment, and later regretting the decision. He stressed that the case revolves around whether the women voluntarily agreed to the encounters, despite any later feelings of remorse. Gibbs also suggested that celebrity status may have influenced how the women acted, with some people possibly behaving differently around famous individuals like Frampton.

Blake Walker’s lawyer, Sheryl Nwosu, echoed similar points, asserting that her client did not force anyone into taking part in sexual acts. She maintained that all sexual contact during the evening was consensual, and the women had willingly participated in the activities that occurred.

The case has been marked by intense media attention, with the court proceedings being closely followed by the public. Judge Ian Pringle has warned the jury to remain impartial, given the level of publicity surrounding the case. With Frampton’s career on the line, the trial is set to continue, and its outcome will likely have lasting consequences not just for the rapper, but for the wider music industry.

Frampton’s career has already suffered in the wake of the charges. In 2023, following the announcement of the charges, he was removed from the line-ups of several major festivals, including Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds. These were significant setbacks for an artist on the rise, further complicating the already difficult situation.

As the trial progresses, it remains unclear how the jury will respond to the evidence presented. The question of consent will ultimately be the key to the case’s resolution, and the courtroom drama continues to unfold as both sides present their arguments.