Jayjay Robertson – Image: Flickr.com

This week the NME’s front cover features a picture of Stormzy with the headline:  ‘Depression: it’s time to talk.’

The magazine used the image and story without permission from the musician who just released his number 1 album.

Stormzy took to Twitter to express his opinion on the use of his image.

He names the magazine “the biggest bunch of sly, foul PAIGONS.”

@NME They’ve used me on their cover without my permission. Depression is a very very sensitive issue and it’s something I’ve spoken about pic.twitter.com/OdAXshdrug

— #GSAP (@Stormzy1) March 16, 2017

@NME the reason I’m so angry is because NME have been begging me to be on their cover. I have refused. Then they do this.

— #GSAP (@Stormzy1) March 16, 2017

Prior to this in an interview with Channel 4, Stormzy spoke about his struggles with his mental health.

In the interview he says “for me, it was a realisation of how fragile we are as humans.”

He continues: “I always saw myself as this strong person who just deals with life, I get on with it.”

The musician has also said on Twitter “my issue is not about me speaking out about it.”

@NME again, my issue is not about me speaking out about it. That is fine and I’m happy I’m able to help but they’ve been very foul here

— #GSAP (@Stormzy1) March 16, 2017

The magazines editor Mike Williams apologised Twitter.

@Stormzy1 Hi Stormzy, Editor Mike here. I’m sorry that you didn’t know your image would be our cover. Our intentions were only positive…

— NME (@NME) March 16, 2017

@Stormzy1 I’m really sorry this has happened. We’re a free magazine and were not trying to shift copies, just talk about something important

— NME (@NME) March 16, 2017

London Multimedia News spoke to UK rapper and Mercury prize winner Speech Debelle on the subject.