When major music stars headline the UK’s biggest festivals, they usually have a few surprises up their sleeve, with special guests often waiting backstage.
Most of the time, these are fellow artists, but one guest brought out by rapper Stormzy during his headline set at Leeds Festival on Saturday has left music fans scratching their heads.
The person in question was Jack Grealish, Manchester City footballer and member of the England male football team.
Sporting a vibrant bucket hat and white hoodie, Grealish was filmed throwing a peace sign to the crowd, before embracing the musician, whose real name is Michael Omari.
His appearance at the festival, which returned this year after it was cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, came just hours after he helped his team secure a 5-0 victory over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.
People have since reacted to Grealish’s appearance at the festival with shock and disbelief:
Can’t believe Jack Grealish came for big fat session at Leeds fest last night hahahaah my guy
— anna chap 🧚🏻♀️ (@annaxchap_) August 29, 2021
as if Stormzy just brought out Jack Grealish at Leeds fest 🤣🤣
— Lewis (@lewiswbudd) August 28, 2021
OI STORMZY JUST BRUNG OUT JACK GREALISH AT LEEDS WTF pic.twitter.com/XxyWVA3YZB
— ًniamhᴺ| (@hrrystill) August 28, 2021
Jack Grealish on stage with Stormzy at Leeds Festival was a mad one pic.twitter.com/Pd8hJRlUQO
— Ceylon Andi Hickman (@ceylonandi) August 28, 2021
Others, meanwhile, decided to praise the footballer as a “legend”, or engage in some light roasting:
jack grealish at leeds fest when stormzy brought him out:
— court| fan (@jgshourihane) August 28, 2021
pic.twitter.com/fYvLVlxdDX
jack grealish got brought onto to the leeds fest stage dressed like a year 7 at a school disco walking like they’re the biggest gangster in the room 😭 pic.twitter.com/KnTMoZ5rVS
— court| fan (@jgshourihane) August 28, 2021
Fair play to him for staying on his feet after that brutal handshake from Stormzy.
— PaulMak (@pmak27) August 28, 2021
Surprised he didn't dive off the stage.
— |~|~|~|~| (@____AMAD____) August 28, 2021
Surprised he didnt dive after that contact https://t.co/8grFsKYx3k
— ً (@thfcjosh_) August 28, 2021
Can’t believe they packed us in and then he went to go rave. I’m sick https://t.co/UAshU88m7Y
— bri (@Xhakaed) August 28, 2021
Legend on and off the pitch
— ¹⁰ (@SxrgioSZN) August 28, 2021
What a life this man is living right now
— Ant (@BernardoTouch) August 28, 2021
However, some Leeds festivalgoers weren’t too happy, after Stormzy brought on Dave for his performance at Reading on Friday:
We got Dave, Leeds got Grealish
— Ant (@Pryke91) August 28, 2021
But why did Leeds have Grealish? 🤣 https://t.co/EWBK9mKubQ
reading got dave and we got jack grealish and chunkz at leeds 😭😭 thanks a lot michael 😭
— kaz and tyler stan account (@georgiaas00) August 29, 2021
Stormzy brings out Dave at Reading fest and bring out Jack Grealish at Leeds where I am 😑😑😑😑 raging
— Katie Wilkinson (@K_wilkinsonn) August 29, 2021
Don’t understand how reading fest get Dave to come out and we get mongo jack grealish to come out and wave and smile at stormzy
— Tyler Mackenzie (@TylerJMackenzie) August 29, 2021
At the end of the day, we just hope Grealish relished the opportunity.
