azealia-banks-dropped-from-festival-after-offensive-tweets-to-zayn-malik

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It wasn’t a good day for Azealia Banks. For reasons unknown, the Harlem native has targeted Zayn Malik with derogatory comments in a Twitter attack that continued throughout Tuesday night. It all began when she posted a tweet suggesting Malik’s new video was influenced by her work. “Damn Zayn be mood boarding the f**k of out me,“ she wrote, followed by: ”Ok little wyt [sic] kids I def like Zayn and def think he’s a cutie pie. Please stop calling me n****r.”

In response, Zayn posted two tweets without naming who they were directed at.

No lies … I see you reaching but I don’t care ?✌?️
— zayn (@zaynmalik) May 10, 2016

My @’s too good for you
— zayn (@zaynmalik) May 10, 2016

Assuming, these tweets were directed at her, Banks replied with a series of offensive remarks about ethnicity and sexual orientation. She extended her offensive tweets to fellow UK act MNEK, which soon led to a debate about UK rap. UK followers who questioned the fact that Banks was due to appear at Rinse FM’s inaugural Born & Bred festival in east London in a few weeks. Banks responded claiming that she would bring armed security with her to her festival slot. This prompted a reaction by UK artists, asking Rinse FM to cancel Banks’ appearance:

If she is playing Born And Bred festival, I’m boycotting it. @rinsefm
— DJ Logan Sama (@djlogansama) May 11, 2016

You won’t catch me playing at that festival. I’m out ?
— Kami (@Kamixlo) May 10, 2016

Why do the Police shut down @Giggs or @nines1ace raves but @AZEALIABANKS is cool to just come here threatening to bring arms ?don’t get it
— lily (@lilyallen) May 11, 2016

Cant stress enough that @bornandbredLDN need 2 cancel @AZEALIABANKS nasty piece of work!!
— Jamz Supernova (@jamzsupernova) May 11, 2016

This ultimately led to Azealia Banks being dropped from the lineup of Rinse FM’s inaugural Born & Bred festival in east London this June. The rapper was due to perform as co-headliner with grime MC Novelist on Sunday June 5. In a brief statement posted on Instagram, Rinse FM said the following:

Azealia Banks apologized in her own way.

Big apologies to anyone who was offended by any of the things I said. Not sorry I said it. But sorry for the way I made people feel
— BRUJA DEL BLOQUE (@AZEALIABANKS) May 11, 2016

Everyone except the targets of my tirades.
— BRUJA DEL BLOQUE (@AZEALIABANKS) May 11, 2016

Not using my blackness or my NYC persona to excuse anything. I am Azealia Banks and I am who I am.
— BRUJA DEL BLOQUE (@AZEALIABANKS) May 11, 2016

Again, I say what I mean and I mean what I say. Not apologizing for my words WHATSOEVER, apologizing for the way people feel.
— BRUJA DEL BLOQUE (@AZEALIABANKS) May 11, 2016

Because it’s not nice to make people feel bad. But as an individual I have the creative freedom to say whatever the fuck I want.
— BRUJA DEL BLOQUE (@AZEALIABANKS) May 11, 2016