US rapper Eminem took the stage at his first British concert last night with around 15,000 fans, mostly girls aged 13 to 16, flicking hand gestures at gay students who had come to Manchester to tell them the singer’s sexist, homophobic songs were unacceptable.

The protesters’ message – that Eminem’s lyrics such as “take drugs, rape sluts, make fun of gay clubs” were dangerous and offensive – fell largely on deaf ears.

Inside the Manchester Evening News arena, the rapper ran through songs such as The Real Slim Shady and the No1 hit Stan wearing his trademark white mask and wielding a chainsaw. Among the crowd was the Manchester United footballer David Beckham and his pop star wife Victoria.

Earlier, students from Sheffield, York and Liverpool arrived by bus for a protest organised by the National Union of Students’ lesbian, gay and bisexual campaign and backed by gay rights’ groups including OutRage!.

Outside the arena, they handed out flyers saying: “Eminem has gone too far!” “We want people to see that Eminem is affecting the day-to-day lives of lesbians and gays,” said Daniel Murphy, NUS campaign representative.

“Manchester is proud of its diversity, women, gay and straight. Why should we give this bigot a warm welcome? Telling people to ‘kill faggots’ endangers people’s safety and encourages gaybashing.”

Phaedra Bell, 16, a fan from Southport, said: “We totally understand gay people’s worries but they have read Eminem wrong. We don’t take any notice of his lyrics.”