Rapper Skepta Apologizes for Single Artwork Evoking Holocaust Comparisons

Rapper Skepta has issued an apology and removed the artwork for his upcoming single “Gas Me Up (Diligent)” after it sparked outrage on social media for its apparent reference to the Holocaust.

The artwork, which was posted on Skepta’s Instagram and X accounts on Monday, featured a photo of a man with a shaved head and the words “Gas Me Up” tattooed across his forehead. He was surrounded by other men who also had shaved heads and wore similar outfits.

Many people commented that the image was insensitive and offensive, especially given the song’s title, which seemed to allude to the Nazi’s use of gas chambers to kill millions of Jews during World War II.

One user wrote: “This is disgusting and disrespectful to the millions of people who died in the Holocaust. How can you be so ignorant and insensitive?”

Another said: “This is not art, this is antisemitism. You should be ashamed of yourself for promoting such hateful imagery.”

Skepta, whose real name is Joseph Junior Adenuga Jr., quickly deleted the post and issued an apology on his social media platforms. He explained that the artwork was part of his album rollout, which was inspired by his parents’ immigration to the U.K. in the 1980s and the skinhead and football…