(Photo by Sergi Alexander/Getty Images)
Nearly two years after Russell Crowe allegedly spat on rapper Azealia Banks at a party, the rapper wants to take the actor to court and she’s using a GoFundMe campaign to make it happen.
The fundraiser, launched Sunday, June 24, hopes to raise $100,000 so that Banks can sue Crowe of the matter. In nearly a week, donors have given over $2,000 to the campaign.
“Russell Crowe spit on me at a party in 2016 and denied it, had a group of people gaslight me causing irreparable damage to my acting career and my reputation as well as loads of emotional damage,” Banks explains in the posting. “Whatever money comes of this will be donated to ocean clean up charities. This isn’t about a big payday for me, it’s about letting the world know that Black women are victims to the same sort of disgusting violence men in Hollywood deal out to women and it’s important to send a message that Black women also deserve justice and will get justice in these situations.
“Crowe called me a n—–, choked me, and spat on me… if I were a white singer he wouldn’t have even thought about laying a finger on me,” she added. “So many things like this happen in the entertainment industry and it’s time that ALL these perpetrators get reprimanded so they STOP this violent behavior!!”
Banks went on Facebook to blast the “Gladiator” star for the alleged incident in October 2017, but witnesses claimed it was Banks who threatened the actor and attendees and caused the situation to escalate. Still, Banks filed a police report for battery over the case and then, rapper RZA, a pal of Crowe’s who brought Banks to the Beverly Hilton Hotel party as his guest, explained what he claimed when down. He said despite Banks’ accusations that the actor called Banks the n-word, and her claim Crowe is a “racist, misogynist pig,” RZA said heard no such thing.
He later admitted on “The Breakfast Club” last year that Crowe “spit at” Banks, while off mic he seemed to indicate it wasn’t on Banks but in her direction.
Meanwhile, several people have been blasting the star on the fundraiser page.
“You need to use this money for psychiatric help. Don’t blame anyone for ruining your ‘acting career’ you are the one who is racist and homophobic. You need all the help you can get.”
“I wouldn’t give you 5 cents. I really don’t think you’re telling the whole truth.”
“Lol. Girl, if you had an acting career then you killed it yourself with acting like a crazy person over and over and over and over and over again. Stop trying to say you’re doing this to send a message about Black women. YOU have attacked Black women. Good Black women don’t need fools like you.”
