Former BBC Radio 1 Xtra presenter Rodney P has admitted attacking an ex-girlfriend, as he faces accusations from another that he threw her onto the floor like she was a ‘rag doll’.
The British hip-hop star, regarded as a pioneer of British rap music, admits assaulting his former partner, who claims the rapper hit her with the back of his hand and pinned her against a wall after their relationship ended.
He also admits he was sentenced to 15 weeks in prison after pleading guilty to assaulting another woman in 2012.
But he had reportedly ‘strongly denied’ allegations from a third woman, who claims he subjected her to physical, emotional and verbal abuse.
Myvanwy Evans claims the rapper, whose real name is Rodney Panton Edwards, ‘would drag and shake me and hold me down’ and said she thought she was ‘going to die’ during one alleged incident involving a wine bottle.
Former BBC Radio 1 Xtra presenter Rodney P has admitted attacking an ex-girlfriend, as he faces accusations from another that he threw her onto the floor like she was a ‘rag doll’
Myvanwy Evans (pictured) claims the rapper, whose real name is Rodney Panton Edwards, ‘would drag and shake me and hold me down’ and said she thought she was ‘going to die’ during one alleged incident involving a wine-bottle
In a post on social media, she claims: ‘The onslaught of physical, emotional and verbal abuse from Rodney involved being violently shouted at, called demeaning names, belittled, bullied and aggressively thrown around his four bedroom house in London where we lived together.
‘On many occasions I was grabbed by the arms, neck, face, legs. Tossed into walls, sideboards, furniture, up and down stairs.
‘Rodney threatened me with an empty wine bottle to my face, shouting you f****** b***** I’ll kill you – I thought I was going to die.
‘He would drag and shake me and hold me down, bruising my arms, legs and upper torso black and blue.
She claims the abuse, which she says last around five months during their relationship in 2007, ‘culminated in (me) being thrown around like a rag doll’.
Ms Evans claims that she moved out after the incident, but continued in the relationship until January 2010.
She said the relationship ended ‘when after a night out with his friends he came back to my house and beat me up’.
Ms Evans said she had undergone therapy ‘for the last 10 years’ and had ‘done a lot of healing’.
She said she decided to go public in July with her allegations after the death of a friend who had asked her why she had not reported the alleged abuse at the time.
Edwards denied attacking Evans in a statement to the Guardian, in which he said her ‘specific claims are false’.
However he told the paper: ‘There are incidents in my past which I am ashamed of, and which I have worked hard to put behind me.’
Edwards (pictured in 2018) denied attacking Evans in a statement to the Guardian, in which he said her ‘specific claims are false’
However Edwards (pictured on stage in a red hat in 2018) told the Guardian: ‘There are incidents in my past which I am ashamed of, and which I have worked hard to put behind me’
It comes after the BBC reported allegations from another woman, who has not been named, of domestic abuse.
The woman, who says she met Edwards more than 30 years ago, told the BBC that Edwards had split her lip after ‘back-handing’ her in the mouth.
She also claimed he dragged her by her neck and pinned her up against the wall after he heard she had started seeing someone else following their split.
Addressing those allegations, Edwards said in a statement to the BBC: ‘I’d like to repeat now I am still deeply sorry that I ever hurt her.’
The DJ also confirmed to the BBC that he was sentenced to 15 weeks in prison after pleading guilty to assaulting another woman in 2012.
He told the BBC: ‘I am deeply ashamed of my actions at that time, and I was sentenced to 15 weeks imprisonment.
‘I was wrong and I have paid the price. I have worked hard over the last 10 years to be accountable for my actions.’
Edwards’ record label, Tru Thoughts, has said it has ‘currently suspended’ its work with the rapper.
In a statement, posted on Twitter, the record label said: ‘We have read the statements regarding allegations about Rodney P and domestic abuse, which we understand have been denied.
Edwards’ record label, Tru Thoughts, has said it has ‘currently suspended’ its work with the rapper
‘We take domestic abuse seriously and we do not condone abusive behaviour in anyway.
‘All allegations should be investigated in the appropriate manner. Our work with Rodney P is currently suspended.’
The record label added that Rodney P will be ‘making a statement very soon’. MailOnline has contacted Rodney P’s representatives for comment.
The rapper rose to fame as a member of the hip-hop group London Posse in the 1980s, before having a successful sol career.
He was later given a presenting role at BBC Radio 1Xtra in 2002. His show ‘The Original Fever’ was on air for six years.
Rodney P has continued working in the music industry and has recently presented documentaries with BBC Four.
The BBC says it has no plans to work with Rodney P in the future.
A BBC spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Details of these serious incidents were not disclosed prior to us working with him. There are currently no plans to work with him in the future.’