Stormzy has accused Oxford University of allegedly rejecting his offer to fund two scholarships for black British students.
The Big For Your Boots rapper claimed his proposal, which has since been accepted by the University of Cambridge, was shut down by the prestigious institution.
“We tried Oxford," he told the audience at the launch of his debut book Rise Up: The #Merky Story So Far. “But they didn’t want to get involved.”
Labour MP David Lammy expressed his outrage on social media over the revelation.
He wrote: “Stormzy: Can I sponsor some Scholarships for Black students who get the grades for Oxford? Oxford: Get Lost, Stormzy.
“Why would you look a gift horse in the mouth @UniofOxford? Must be getting too big for your boots.”
A spokesperson from the University of Oxford told Standard Online: "Oxford University is committed to widening access and participation for all students from under-represented backgrounds. We admire Stormzy’s commitment to inspire and support black students to succeed in higher education.
"We have not received or turned down any offer or proposal to fund undergraduate scholarships at Oxford. We have contacted to Stormzy’s representatives today to clarify we would welcome the opportunity to work together on inspiring students from African-Caribbean heritage to study at Oxford.”
The Stormzy Scholarship was unveiled on A-Level results day by the rapper and pays the tuition fees of two students wanting to study at the University of Cambridge.
It also provides a maintenance grant for a four-year undergraduate course this year and in 2019.
Opening up on why he wanted to launch the scheme, Stormzy revealed that he had a desire to find the “genius and incredible minds” within the “badly behaved kids.”
He said: “That is something I take personal pride in. I am always very inspired by that genius and… people who are smarter than me.
“Now I am in this position I want to do something for them.”
