BRITISH RAPPER STORMZY, BANNED FROM DRIVING FOLLOWING MOBILE PHONE OFFENSE

Stormzy, the British rapper renowned for his hits like "Vossi Bop" and "Own It," has been handed a nine-month driving ban after admitting to using a mobile phone while driving while behind the wheel of a Rolls-Royce.. The incident occurred on March 7, 2024, on Addison Road in west Kensington, London, where an off-duty police officer observed him behind the wheel of his Rolls-Royce Wraith.

The 31-year-old artist, born Michael Ebenazer Owuo Jr., pleaded guilty to the offense in a letter to the courts. During a hearing at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on January 2, 2025, District Judge Andrew Sweet criticized Stormzy’s "dangerous and irresponsible" behavior. In addition to the driving ban, Stormzy was fined £2,010 (approximately $2,500). The court also noted that he already had six penalty points on his license for previous infractions.

The prosecutor, Alice Holloway, revealed that in October 2023, Stormzy was stopped for having illegally tinted windows on his Lamborghini Urus, which allowed only 4% light transmission instead of the legally required 70%. Although he complied by removing the tints, this was not his first encounter with traffic law violations.

Stormzy’s solicitor, Peter Csemiczky, emphasized that the rapper accepts full responsibility for his actions and has expressed remorse. While he was not present at the hearing, he has since pledged to improve his adherence to traffic laws.

Despite the legal setbacks, 2024 proved to be a significant year for Stormzy musically. In August, he scored a No. 1 hit on the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart with "Backbone," a collaboration with electronic duo Chase & Status. His most recent album, This Is What I Mean, released in November 2022, continues to garner acclaim, solidifying his position as a key figure in the U.K. music scene.

The driving ban serves as a reminder of the legal and safety implications of distracted driving, even for public figures. Fans and critics alike will be watching to see how Stormzy navigates the road ahead—both figuratively and literally.