Pop singer Rina Sawayama, whose debut album has been praised by Elton John, has criticized two prestigious British music awards for barring her from eligibility due to British nationality requirements.
The 29-year-old, who was born in Japan but considers herself British, has permanent residency status in the United Kingdom but does not hold a British passport. She criticized the Mercury Prize and the Brit Awards in a Vice magazine interview and tweets Wednesday for not recognizing her as British.
"I've lived here 25 years (most of my life) but I am not British enough to even be eligible for the 2 biggest U.K. Music awards, @MercuryPrize and @BRITs," she tweeted Wednesday, with the hashtag #SAWAYAMAISBRITISH trending in Britain.