RZA and Azealia Banks (Wikipedia/Facebook)
In the days following the reported Oct. 16 altercation between Azealia Banks and Russell Crowe, rapper RZA is sharing his account of what happened.
On Facebook Oct. 20, the Wu-Tang Clan MC began by sharing that he wished the best for Banks and “any struggling artist in this complex industry.”
Then, he explained how the pair met. Banks stars in RZA’s upcoming film Coco. While she excelled professionally on set, RZA said he did not have any experience with her on a social level.
The 47-year-old revealed Banks asked him for financial help and a record deal several weeks ago.
“I called a friend and bong a record deal was on the table,” RZA wrote. “The only clause my buddy gave was I be the filter because the word is ‘she is volatile.’ I called her and told her a deal was in the workings.”
However, Banks shared the news too soon on social media. According to RZA, no deal had been finalized yet.
“I didn’t respond or comment to her post,” the rapper continued. “Because I’m not the type to stop the hustle. I actually wanted her to win. I advised her to stay focus [sic], leave social media and tabloids alone and let your music and art do your talking.”
The two met at a Beverly Hills Hotel polo lounge in California to discuss the record agreement. But RZA also wanted to visit his friend, Crowe. The actor told the rapper he could bring Banks as his party guest.
“Before the night is over Azealia is insulting half the room she becomes loud and obnoxious,” RZA explained. “There was nothing funny about her behavior. I felt a little embarrassed because she was my guest. Still, verbal abuse can be tolerated but when it goes physical… Azealia threatened to cut a girl in the face with a glass, then actually grabs a glass and physically attacks for no logical reason. Russell blocked the attack and expelled her from the suite.
“Seeing is believing and I saw her behave as an obnoxious erratic individual and in the circles I frequent, this was unprecedented. I was totally puzzled by her and thought maybe meds or booze or something had her zoned out. Nevertheless, I made sure she got home safe.”
RZA noted the scuffle was not a race or gender issue.
“I did not hear Russell call her a n—–,” he continued. “I’m not trying to protect Russell from anything he is a man of his own caliber. My art, talent and success speak for itself and Azealia’s recent slander of me and self-victimization reflect’s [sic] the personality of the person that was in that room that night.”
Peace.
Normally I don’t respond to negative social media attacks towards me. Yet in this case of Azealia Banks I’m…Posted by RZA on Thursday, October 20, 2016
RZA is referring to Banks’ assertion to TMZ Oct. 19 that he did not defend her at the party. It ultimately led Banks to drop out of closing the record deal.
Following his lengthy Facebook post, RZA spoke to TMZ Live and maintained Banks’ remark that Crowe spit on her, but said the Australian did not choke her.
Instead, RZA said Banks became “physically violent” and she suggested she was drunk. Banks responded to RZA with a Facebook post of her own Thursday night.
RZA has clearly been given no legal advice and went to straight to TMz out of his feelings to try and gaslight me….
Posted by Azealia Banks on Thursday, October 20, 2016
“RZA has clearly been given no legal advice,” Banks wrote in part. “And went to straight to TMZ out of his feelings to try and gaslight me. Whatever pieces are left of his brain after years and years of smoking dust stupidly allowed him to ramble himself into incriminating his friend, and completely debunking their entire made up theory.
“You mean to tell me, that a 300lb man needed to use ALL OF THAT FORCE, to remove an ‘erratic’ guest from a party?”
