Azealia Banks dropped from Born and Bred festival lineup after calling UK rap ‘a disgrace’

Azealia Banks has been axed from the Born & Bred festival lineup after branding UK rap “a disgrace”.

The controversial rapper made the comments in a tirade which started after she accused Zayn Malik of copying her style.

Banks also tweeted racist and homophobic comments about Malik, calling him a “faggot”.

"I eat sand for breakfast and suck dick for dinner" https://t.co/iHaStz4SqQ

— BRUJA DEL BLOQUE (@AZEALIABANKS) May 10, 2016

In a string of tweets, Banks then turned her sights on grime, saying: “grime loses all the time. you uk rappers are way too nerdy for anyone to care”.

The UK really can't rap though. UK RAP is just a disgrace to rap culture in general.

— BRUJA DEL BLOQUE (@AZEALIABANKS) May 11, 2016

In the wake of her comments, UK artists began to demand Banks be removed from the lineup of Born & Bred festival.

The Hackney festival, which is run by Rinse FM, was due to be headlined by Banks next month.

The less attention she is paid the quicker the situation will die off. I do believe born and bred festival need to cancel her

— Gracious K (@Graciouskisay) May 11, 2016

If she is playing Born And Bred festival, I'm boycotting it. @rinsefm

— DJ Logan Sama (@djlogansama) May 11, 2016

Godzealia Banks will 100% get piss thrown at her at Born & Bred. You can't be anti-Pakistani & think you can perform near Whitechapel.

— MIKILL PANE (@MikillPane) May 11, 2016

https://twitter.com/AZEALIABANKS/status/730309915189891072

Following the backlash, NME journalist David Renshaw tweeted that Born & Bred had pulled Banks from their line-up.

London festival Born & Bred have dropped Azealia Banks from her headline slot in June. Full story to follow…

— David Renshaw (@ddavidrenshaw) May 11, 2016

In the meantime, a conspicuous empty slot appeared between AJ Tracey and Benga on the festival’s official lineup page.

Soon after, Rinse tweeted an official statement regarding the artist’s removal from the lineup, citing their celebration of “inclusivity and equality”.

.@bornandbredLDN ANNOUNCEMENT pic.twitter.com/JkwoXLChya

— Rinse FM (@RinseFM) May 11, 2016

Banks has since taken some time out of her Twitter rampage to apologise to her UK fans.

To all of my Darling UK fans who bought tickets to see me at the Rinse FM show. My sincerest apologies!!!!!

— BRUJA DEL BLOQUE (@AZEALIABANKS) May 11, 2016