After a long and intense legal battle, rapper Slowthai, whose real name is Tyron Frampton, was found not guilty of raping two women following a house party after a performance.
The 29-year-old, alongside co-accused Alex Blake-Walker, 27, had been facing multiple charges related to the alleged assault that took place in the early hours of September 8, 2021.
Both men were cleared of all charges after a two-week trial at Oxford Crown Court.
A Rollercoaster of Emotions
As the verdicts were read out, Slowthai broke down in tears in the dock.
The relief was palpable for his family and friends, including his wife, Anne-Marie, who was present in the courtroom.
Judge Ian Pringle KC acknowledged the intense emotions surrounding the case, which had stirred strong reactions from both the defense and the prosecution.
Allegations and the Night of the Incident
The case stemmed from events following Slowthai’s gig at The Bullingdon music venue in Oxford on September 7, 2021.
After the performance, Frampton and Blake-Walker joined two women—one of whom was a “huge fan” of Slowthai—at a party at a friend’s house.
It was there, on the roof of the property, where the women claimed they were raped.
The two defendants, however, argued that the sexual activity that occurred was consensual.
Defendants’ Defense and Reactions
Both Frampton and Blake-Walker admitted to engaging in sexual activity with the complainants but strongly denied the accusations of assault.
Slowthai described the allegations as “not true” and stated the women were “lying.”
He also mentioned that he and Blake-Walker had exchanged a “fist-bump” but denied any implication of encouragement.
The jury ultimately sided with the defendants, leading to their acquittal.
Life Beyond the Courtroom
Outside of his music career, Slowthai has a personal life that has captured attention.
In July 2022, he secretly married Anne-Marie in Las Vegas, and the couple shares a daughter named Seven.
Slowthai is also a father to a son from a previous relationship with Russian singer and model Katya Kischuk.
Slowthai has achieved significant success in the music industry, earning a Grammy nomination in 2021 for Best Dance Recording, as well as a Mercury Prize nomination for his debut album, Nothing Great About Britain, in 2019.
His second album, Tyron, reached number one on the UK charts in 2021.
His stage name is inspired by a childhood nickname linked to his speech impediment, which caused him to speak slowly.
Moving Forward
As the case comes to a close, Slowthai and Blake-Walker are left to rebuild their lives after a turbulent legal ordeal.
The rapper’s future in both his personal life and career remains to be seen, but for now, the legal victory offers a fresh start.