Rapper Slowthai, whose real name is Tyron Frampton, broke down in tears in court after being acquitted of raping two women at a house party in Oxford three years ago.
The 29-year-old artist stood trial at Oxford Crown Court alongside his friend, Alex Blake-Walker, 27. Both men faced three joint charges of rape, and Blake-Walker also faced an additional charge of sexual assault against one of the women.
After more than 10 hours of jury deliberation following a two-week trial, both Frampton and Blake-Walker were cleared of all charges.
The allegations stemmed from an incident on the night of September 8, 2021, when the two women claimed they were assaulted on an outside roof during a house party. The Grammy-nominated rapper and his friend admitted that sexual activity occurred but insisted it was consensual.
Frampton had performed at The Bullingdon music venue in Oxford on the evening of September 7, 2021, where he met the two complainants.
One of the women was described in court as a “huge fan” of the rapper. After the show, the women joined Frampton and Blake-Walker on the rapper’s tour bus before heading to a friend’s house party.
During the trial, Frampton vehemently denied the allegations, stating that the women were lying. He acknowledged that he and Blake-Walker had “fist-bumped” during the night but denied that it was an act of encouragement.
The court also heard that a backlog of cases had delayed Frampton’s arrest and charge, which occurred while he was in New York for a magazine shoot.
The trial’s conclusion saw Frampton’s wife, singer Anne-Marie, sigh in relief as the verdicts were read. Frampton, who was removed from the Glastonbury, Leeds, and Reading festival line-ups after being charged, expressed his gratitude for the support he received throughout the ordeal. He declined to comment further on the verdicts as he left the court with his wife.
Frampton and Anne-Marie married in Las Vegas in 2022 and have a 10-month-old daughter together. The rapper also has a two-year-old son with his ex-partner, Russian singer and model Katya Kischuk. Despite the legal battle, Frampton remains focused on his music career and family.
The case highlighted the challenges and delays within the legal system, particularly the impact of case backlogs on individuals awaiting trial.
Frampton’s acquittal marks the end of a tumultuous period for the artist, who now looks forward to moving on with his life and career.
