“Thumb-erlievable banter” – Example gives fan backstage tickets to RiZE Festival as an apology for insulting his looks

The musician didn’t take criticism of his new tune very well

Example gave a fan backstage tickets to RiZE Festival this weekend after saying that he looked like “a beard had been drawn on a thumb” on Twitter.

The musician – real name Elliot Gleave – released his nine-track mixtape ‘Bangers & Ballads’ on Friday (August 17). Responding to the single ‘Show Me How To Love’, fan James Hart posted on Twitter: “Honestly, if you took Example’s vocals off this track it’s a tune. Otherwise it’s a vanity project.”

Not taking the criticism in his stride, Example fired back: “Honestly, if you got a biro and drew a beard on your Grandad’s thumb it’d look like poor James here.”

A follow-up post from Example asked his followers to submit drawings of James on their thumbs in return for festival passes. “If it looks like James send me a pic and you could win tickets to see me at @RiZEFestival this weekend,” he said.

Now, after admitting that he was “really mean”, Example has explained how he messaged Hart to apologise and offered to take him along to the festival. “I ended up DM’ing him, apologising and brought him backstage at Rize festival yesterday for a beer,” a post on Instagram reads. “It was his first ever festival as well.” Check out the post below.

It now appears that all is forgiven, with Hart describing the exchanges as “thumb-erlievable banter”. He later told his followers he’d had an “amazing day” and called Example a “legend”.

Elsewhere at RiZE, Liam Gallagher paid tribute to Aretha Franklin during his performance. Early in his set, he told the crowd that the soul legend “had the best voice in the universe” whilst images of the late star were shown behind him.

RiZE replaced V Festival after Richard Branson announced that Virgin would no longer be sponsoring the event. Also appearing across the weekend were Stereophonics, James Bay, Bastille, Years & Years, and Miles Kane.