Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford has taken to social media to preemptively defend himself against an article hit by the tabloid, which had threatened to publish a photo of the footballer with an unnamed rapper.
Rashford did not identify the individual and strongly insisted he had no existing or subsequent relationship with him other than posing for a photo.
“I was contacted today by a tabloid informing me that they plan to publish a photo of a rapper that appears to have been taken a year ago. united wrote in Instagram. “I want to make it clear that I have never seen this photo, I do not know this person and I am not friends with him.
“Like most footballers if someone asks for a photo with me I will never refuse but obviously I am not in a position to do a background check on every individual who asks for a photo.
“Can I appeal to the tabloids instead of 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 fight knife crime to prevent more families suffering tragic loss.”
Rashford closed his post with the message: “Deepest condolences go out to Jimmy Mizen's family.”
Jimmy Mizen died outside a south London bakery on 10 May 2008 aged 16 after being hit with a glass container which severed an artery in his neck. Jake Farhi, who was 19 at the time, was convicted of the murder in 2009 and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 14 years.
Released in 2023, Farhi has recently come under investigation by the Ministry of Justice after reports claim 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.”