Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford has taken to social media to pre-emptively defend himself against a tabloid article that threatened to publish a photo of the footballer with an unnamed rapper.
Rashford did not identify the person and strongly insisted that he had no current or subsequent connection with him other than taking a picture of him.
“A tabloid called me today and told me they plan to publish a photo of me with a rapper that appears to have been taken over a year ago.” united He wrote on Instagram. “I want to make it clear that I have never seen this photo before, I do not know this person, and I am not friends with him.
He added: “Like most footballers, if someone asked to take a photo with me, I would never refuse, but obviously I am unable to conduct a background check on every individual who asks me for a photo.”
“Can I please urge the tabloids, rather than focusing on me, to use their platforms to help raise positive awareness of the many charities and individuals who work every day across the UK to tackle knife crime to prevent more families from suffering tragic losses.”
Rashford He concluded his post with the message: “My deepest condolences to Jimmy Mizen’s family.”
Jimmy Mizen died outside a bakery in south London on May 10, 2008 when he was 16 after being hit by a glass plate, severing an artery in his neck. Jake Farhi, who was 19 at the time, was convicted of murder in 2009 and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 14 years.
Released in 2023, Farahi was recently under investigation by the Department of Justice after reports claimed he released music under the stage name TEN in reference to Mizen's murder, according to BBC.
Jimmy Mizen's parents, Margaret and Barry, established the Mizen Foundation as a charitable entity to help “build safer and more peaceful communities.”
