After Azealia Banks’ Twitter account was suspended for calling Zayn Malik racist names, the rapper called out the former One Direction member for his privilege and issued a sincere apology.
Banks responded to a post from Angel Ramirez-Jordan to her on her Instagram page May 12. The Harlem rapper said she was “not blaming anyone or anything for any of my actions” but “the music industry mirrors the racism Black people encounter in daily society and it allows “people like Zayn to hide behind his popularity amongst white folk when he himself is aiding in the work of white supremacy. Cultural Erasure. Another instance of a ‘white’ artist taking credit for the black artists hard work and passion. And truthfully, it’s pushing me over the f——- edge.” She calls Zayn using her visuals without credit “hurtful.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFU6hF-H1ZF/?taken-by=azealiabanks
In the second part of her reply, Banks asserts she called Malik names like “curry scented b—-” and “sand n—–” in order to remind the British Pakistani that he is not white, but a person of color.
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She ends by saying the ex-boy bander “needs a reality check and needs to respect that I am one of those people WHO HAS TO WORK TWICE AS HARD maybe 3x to make this happen for myself. Respect that we are both in the same boat and stop letting all that white p—- go to ur head.”
Banks also commented on child actress Skai Jackson. The two argued on Twitter over the rapper’s comments about Malik. Banks says Jackson will be in for a rude awakening after her Disney Channel days are over. She does not believe it was right for the “Jessie” actress to command that she “simmer down” and says Jackson “needs to stay in a child’s place and be a child.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFU-TFQH1Qu/?taken-by=azealiabanks
After posting several images of supportive fan comments, Banks issued an honest apology on May 14, stating “racial/sexual slurs/stereotypes in attempts to make fun of or degrade another person or group is absolutely unacceptable.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFZ7VslH1QT/?taken-by=azealiabanks
She adds in a follow-up post that her curry joke was “some dumb nyc joke about cabs smelling like curry” and notes that what may be funny at home with family is not funny online.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFalaK1n1UF/?taken-by=azealiabanks
Still, Banks is not fond of Jackson. Last night, she posted an image of a response that did not support the 14-year-old’s diss. User @igotmelanin wrote that Banks is not “brainwashed on what a Black woman should be.” The rapper agrees, saying Jackson is “a coon in training.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFb3iVIn1be/?taken-by=azealiabanks
