Dave Blasts 'Real Racist' Boris Johnson During Powerful Brit Awards Performance

The rapper also hit out the media's treatment of Meghan Markle and called for "support for the Windrush generation" during his performance.
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Dave took aim at Boris Johnson, the British media’s treatment of Meghan Markle and racism within British culture during his powerful performance at this year’s Brit Awards.

The rapper – who, along with Lewis Capaldi, was one of the two most nominated artists at this year’s awards show – began his performance with a rendition of his song Black, an exploration of Black history and social injustice, while seated at a piano.

He followed this with a brand new verse, in which he branded the prime minister a “real racist”.

“It is racist, whether or not it feels racist,” he began. “The truth is our prime minister’s a real racist. They say you should be grateful we’re the least racist, I say the least racist is still racist.”

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Dave on stage during the 2020 Brit Awards
Samir Hussein via Getty Images

He continued: “If you don’t wanna get it, then you’re never gonna get it, how the news treats Kate versus how they treat Meghan.”

Referring to the victim of last year’s London Bridge terror attack, Jack Merritt, Dave was heard rapping: “Rest in peace Jack Merritt, you’re my brother in arms, there’s tears in our eyes and love in our hearts.

“We never had the same background, culture or background, you devoted your life to giving others a chance. And for that, I’m so taken aback, because it gave us all a voice, I have to say it for Jack.”

As he reached the climax of his rap, Dave concluded: “We want rehabilitation, that would be amazing, our Grenfell victims still need accommodation. And we still need support for the Windrush generation, reparations for the time our people spent on plantations.”

With a grin, Dave then declared “I’m out”, before putting down his microphone and heading off the stage.

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Dave rapped down the camera towards the end of his performance
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Johnson has been heavily criticised in the past for referring to Black Africans as “piccaninnies” with “watermelon smiles” in opinion pieces he has written.

He also once wrote that working class mothers’ children were “unloved and undisciplined” and might “mug you on the street corner”.

Dave’s comments were reminiscent of when fellow British rapper Stormzy closed the show at the Brits two years ago, and called out then-prime minister Theresa May over the way she reacted to the Grenfell Tower disaster.

Check out all the photos from this year’s Brit Awards red carpet in the gallery below...

Brit Awards 2020 Red Carpet
Billie Eilish(01 of57)
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Nominated: Best International Female (credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
Harry Styles(02 of57)
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Nominated: Best British Album, Best British Male (credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
Lizzo(03 of57)
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Nominated: Best International Female (credit:Dave J Hogan via Getty Images)
Lewis Capaldi(04 of57)
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Nominated: Best British Male, Album Of The Year, Best New Artist, Single Of The Year (credit:Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images)
Stormzy(05 of57)
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Nominated: Best British Male, Best British Single, Best British Album (credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
Anne-Marie(06 of57)
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(credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
Mabel(07 of57)
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Nominated: Best British Female and Best British Single (credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
Dave(08 of57)
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Nominated: Best British Album, Best British Male, New Artist, Best Single (credit:Joe Maher via Getty Images)
Celeste(09 of57)
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Winner: Rising Star (credit:PA)
Ashley Roberts(10 of57)
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Laura Whitmore(11 of57)
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(credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
Maya Jama(12 of57)
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Charli XCX(13 of57)
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Nominated: Best British Female (credit:Dave J Hogan via Getty Images)
Ellie Goulding(14 of57)
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(credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
Abbey Clancy(15 of57)
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(credit:David M. Benett via Getty Images)
Jack Whitehall(16 of57)
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Rag'n'Bone Man(17 of57)
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Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes, JB Gill and Oritse Williams of JLS(18 of57)
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Fleur East(19 of57)
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(credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
Nicola Roberts(20 of57)
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(credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
Paloma Faith(21 of57)
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(credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
Michael Kiwanuka(22 of57)
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Nominated: Best British Male (credit:Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images)
Burna Boy(23 of57)
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Mabel and Neneh Cherry(24 of57)
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(credit:Joe Maher via Getty Images)
Vick Hope(25 of57)
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AJ Tracey(26 of57)
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Nominated: Best Song (credit:Joe Maher via Getty Images)
Melanie C(27 of57)
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Montana Brown(28 of57)
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Martin Kemp and Roman Kemp(29 of57)
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Michelle Keegan(30 of57)
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(credit:Dave J Hogan via Getty Images)
Mahalia(31 of57)
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AJ Odudu(32 of57)
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(credit:Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images)
Tom Walker(33 of57)
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Jorja Smith(34 of57)
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Ashnikko(35 of57)
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Grace Carter(36 of57)
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Sir Tom Jones(37 of57)
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Freya Ridings(38 of57)
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Nominated: Best British Female (credit:Dave J Hogan via Getty Images)
Johnny Marr(39 of57)
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Tallia Storm(40 of57)
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Will Farquarson, Kyle Simmons, Dan Smith and Chris Wood of Bastille(41 of57)
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FKA Twigs(42 of57)
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Emily Atack(43 of57)
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Hailee Steinfeld(44 of57)
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(credit:Dave J Hogan via Getty Images)
Niall Horan(45 of57)
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Sam Fender(46 of57)
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Amber Davies(47 of57)
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Aitch(48 of57)
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Dermot Kennedy(49 of57)
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Dizzee Rascal(50 of57)
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Michael Ward(51 of57)
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Penny Lancaster and Rod Stewart(52 of57)
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Mollie King(53 of57)
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Alex Scott(54 of57)
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Kiefer Sutherland(55 of57)
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Annie Mac(56 of57)
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(credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
Greg James(57 of57)
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(credit:David M. Benett via Getty Images)