Oxford Feminist Society have condemned the Oxford Union for their invitation of convicted domestic abuser Dizzee Rascal. The rapper, whose real name is Dylan Mills, is due to appear at the Union on Wednesday for a Hip Hop panel event, followed by a concert later that evening.
Oxford Feminist Society told Cherwell: “The Union’s unwillingness or inability to withdraw its invitation, apologise for extending it in the first place or publicly condemn the actions of Dizzee Rascal contradicts its ability to be the bastion of free speech it claims to be.
“It is an insult to the victims of domestic violence and to women in general. The lack of repercussions faced by these men then resulting in career promoting opportunities minimises the violence that women face, mainly at the hands of men.
“Violence against women is a national and international emergency, and the Union is complicit in perpetuating an environment that supports it.”
Dizzee Rascal was convicted in 2022 of assaulting his former partner, losing an appeal against the judgement a year later. He was given a one-year restraining order and a 24-week curfew, following a trial at which he denied assault by beating.
In an Instagram post on Sunday, Oxford Fem Soc demanded that the Union withdraw the invitation, issue an apology for “normalising such individuals”, and update their guest policy “to ensure no further abusers are invited”.
Fem Soc also told Cherwell that their “contact and discussion with the Union’s Press Team has been transparent and in good faith, helping [them] outline internal and external means of redress.” However, they raised concerns at the “apparent lack of internal ability for individual Union committee members to take action towards either disinvitation, or a statement of recognition or condemnation on behalf of the Union.”
One Union member, Emily, who did not want to give her full name, told Cherwell that she had raised issues with the invitation for some time, but had not received any response to her concerns after contacting the Union on social media. She said to Cherwell: “I was very vocal about my upset over the Union inviting a convicted domestic abuser to speak. I contacted all of the current committee, the Union social media pages and an internal Union group to no reply.
“Inviting Dizzee Rascal is not only invalidating for students who have experienced abuse but it is also upsetting to give him the honour of speaking at the Oxford Union. It is wrong, and the committee has failed to address my concerns as a member at all.”
The panel at the Union on Wednesday evening is set to discuss Hip Hop and its impact on youth, with other guests including Tajai, MC Serch, DJ Yoda, and DJ Bonds.
In regard to action surrounding the event, Feminist Society told Cherwell that they have “not publicly planned any action against the Union, however [they] do call for a boycott of all non-disruptive attendance of the event.”
They further added: “We would like to repeat that both us and the Union have been civil to this point, but there is nothing civil about normalising violent misogyny and cultural acceptance of those that commit it. That in itself is violence and is a violation of the free speech of all those affected.”
Cherwell contacted Oxford Union for comment but did not receive a response.
