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Stormzy replaces A$AP Rocky as Open’er Festival headliner after rapper’s arrest

The UK grime star steps in to replace the American rapper just hours before his scheduled headline set at Poland’s Open’er Festival 

Ellie Harrison
Thursday 04 July 2019 17:34 BST
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Stormzy performs Shut Up at Glastonbury

Stormzy has been announced as a last-minute replacement headliner for Poland’s Open’er Festival following A$AP Rocky’s arrest on suspicion of assault.

American rapper A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, has been held on suspicion of assault in Sweden following his appearance at Smash festival in Stockholm on Sunday.

He was detained following a street fight in the Swedish capital in which a man was repeatedly punched and allegedly cut with a broken bottle.

A video published by TMZ appeared to show Mayers throwing a punch at a man in the street, but the rapper has since posted his own footage on his Instagram which he claims is taken from before the fight and which appears to show him playing the attempted peacemaker.

UK grime star Stormzy, hot on the heels of his historic headline performance at Glastonbury 2019, has been brought in as Mayer’s replacement at Open’er Festival where the rapper was due to perform tonight, Thursday 4 July.

“Stormzy is coming to Open’er!,” confirmed the festival’s Facebook page. “This year’s Glastonbury headliner in just a few hours decided to help us, and we are very grateful for that. Respect! See you in Gdynia tonight at 0:30, Orange Main Stage.”

Mayers is also meant to be headlining London’s Wireless Festival on Sunday 7 July, but his recent arrest has now thrown doubt over whether he will be able to perform.

The Independent has contacted Wireless Festival and A$AP Rocky representatives for comment.

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