By Fiona McMeekin
Those of us familiar with Azealia Banks know that if it’s not her hit singles like “212” and “Miss Camaraderie” she’s notorious for, it's her extensive list of online feuds she’s participated in (often one-sided) over the years. The list is so extensive that there’s been a list of every supposed Banks Beef that has circulated around Twitter/ X, Reddit and the likes, which is comical due to its sheer length.
Initially, I wanted to see which of these names on this iconic list could be substantiated and create a timeline of every Azealia Banks Beef to have graced the internet. After week two and only being halfway through the list I decided to reroute my thesis. Instead, I present to you, a compiled list of the more niche Azealia Banks Beefs- namely politicians, airline companies and countries.
Amanda Brunker August 2012
Brunker, former Miss Ireland and Dublin celeb, posted lyrics to Banks' hit single 212 following it with another tweet reading “Ok, I’m not black enough to tease the rest of the lyrics… Gotta love it though :).” Banks responded “@AmandaJBrunker “black enough” ? …. Wow. How ignorant.” Though Brunker seems to have tried to get in personal contact with Banks via Twitter personal message, Banks seems to have ignored this request instead tweeting, “@AmandaJBrunker but at least you recognize that the Black Girl is superior. :) …. Have a wonderful day.”
America March 2015
Amidst the list of countries Banks has supposedly “feuded” with is her own home country. In an interview with Playboy Banks said:
“I hate fat white Americans. All the people who are crunched into the middle of America, the real fat and meat of America, are these racist conservative white people who live on their farms. Those little teenage girls who work at Kmart and have a racist grandma – that’s really America.”
She continues to reflect on her experiences as a black musician in America, comparing herself to artist Lorde “It’s always about race. Lorde can run her mouth and talk sh*t about all these other b------, but y’all aren’t saying she’s angry. If I have something to say, I get pushed into the corner.”
Delta Airlines September 2015
Delta Airlines is among the first of the airlines to be throttled into the online sphere of the Azealia Banks dramatics. Back in 2015 on a flight that had just landed in LAX, Banks made headlines after TMZ released a video of her calling a flight attendant a homophobic slur. The situation unraveled after Banks reportedly was stopped from exiting the plane by a fellow passenger who put his hand up to keep her from moving past. Not shown on video but reported on in this article by CBS, Banks allegedly “spat in the man's face, punched him and clawed at his shirt.” The video shows a man holding on to her bag as she tries to grab it from him, seemingly to leave, as a flight attendant approaches trying to resolve the situation. After some back and forth with said flight attendant, as she appears to be allowed to leave, Banks calls the airline attendant a “f------ f-----."
Banks took to X (then Twitter) to justify her language, posting “I am bisexual. My brother is trans. My employees are all gay men... Nothing else to say.”
Elsa from Frozen February 2015
Following up on one of the more bizarre names on the feud list is Elsa from Disney’s 2013 movie Frozen. Banks posted on Instagram a photo of her in face makeup whilst filming the “Ice Princess” music video. Fans were quick to claim Banks was participating in “whiteface” to which Banks replied “Lol u crackers wish I cared enough to be doing whiteface. I'm becoming the ICE PRINCESS YAAAAAAS.” Several days later she reposted a fan edit of her pale face overlaid onto Princess Elsa’s body, prompting media outlets to pin Banks as the new Elsa.
Barack Obama Apr 2015/July 2016
Banks has always been outspoken on a variety of her opinions but specifically her political ones. Banks' views on President Obama seem to have shifted during his eight-year presidency. In 2015 Banks declared attraction to Obama in an interview with Billboard saying “He’s so fine. Those big-ass white teeth and ears hanging off his head? I’m like, ‘Oh my god, I want to f– the president.’”
Nearly a year later, Banks took to Instagram to ridicule Obama's statement on the shootings in Baton Rouge where six police officers were shot. The incident followed the murder of Alton Sterling who died at the hands of two Baton Rouge officers. Banks posted to Instagram a picture of an excerpt from Obama’s statement and captioned the post:
“NO OBAMA. YOU'RE WRONG. JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE AFRAID OF SEEMING TOO IN LINE OR IN SUPPORT OF BLACK INTERESTS DOESN’T MEAN YOU GET TO KEEP SPITTING IN OUR F------ FACES LIKE THIS. I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND that you will be KILLED by the white supremacy, if you were to stand on the side of black people but saying s--- like this is making it worse. For ALL of us. Including whatever future black generations that will stem from your daughters. I’m going to have to very politely ask you to shut the f--- up. ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ALL KNOW YOU BLACK A—AIN'T GON DO S--- ABOUT THIS. You sat in the White House and let your people die in the streets and didn’t do a godd--- thing about it.”
Banks concluded the now deleted post “#shutthef---upobama.
Donald Trump February 2016 onwards
Banks endorsed former president Donald Trump announcing on Twitter in February of 2016 (during black history month) that she would be giving her vote to Trump in the upcoming elections stating “He’s evil like America is evil.” After fans questioned her judgment, Banks attempted to clarify her position stating “politicians are inherently evil, I trust the one who is most transparent” while tweeting that Hilary Clinton “has been GROOMED for the presidency. she’s another one of the establishment's robots here to carry out an agenda.”
She continued her support for Trump and against Rihanna in 2017 when the two stars got into an online tat following Rihanna condemning the president for the Muslim Travel Ban that temporarily disallowed travel from seven major Muslim countries, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen to the US as well as deferred the resettlement of Syrian refugees.
Around this time Banks was also strongly offering her musical services for Trump's inauguration saying “This is an EPIC moment in modern history and it should def be celebrated in style. I would love to perform at the inauguration.” Trump did not follow Banks up on her offer.
But, in relation to her spew with Candace Owens in March of 2024, Banks did call Trump fat. Mentioning this often-prodded talking point of the former president, and seemingly one of his insecurities, is enough to have his name wind up on the Azealia Banks Feud List. In addition to commenting on Owens’ post “These are not politics, these are opinions. And they are tired as hell” (see more context further on the timeline) Banks also mentioned Trump saying, "Donald Trump and Kanye are fat, and we saw Kanye fat ashy butt in the gondola... where's the disdain?... why are we still coming for Lizzo over some years old s----” in response to Owens issues with the fat acceptance movement.
Back in November of 2023, Banks announced she would be voting for Trump in the upcoming 2024 elections and has also included him in the list of people she loves posted in 2021.
Sarah Palin April 2016
Sarah Palin responded to Banks’ tweets back in 2016 threatening to sue the singer. An article by newslo.com posted a satirical article that quoted Palin saying “I’ve been saying it for years, but nobody’s listening – slavery wasn’t forced onto African-Americans, they accepted it willingly.” Banks, unbeknownst of the article's ironic nature, slammed the former governor of Alaska on Twitter saying “ Honestly… Let’s find the biggest burliest blackest negroes and let them run a train on her. Film it and put it on worldstar.”
Palin hit back via Facebook, posting:
“Hey Female Rapper - listen up, little darling. No one has any idea what you're wigging out about in these bizarre, violent rants against me, but you're obviously not exercising enough intelligence to acknowledge you've been sucked into believing some fake interview in which I supposedly offered comments representing the antithesis of my truth… And now I'll go through my young daughter's playlist to make sure there hasn't been any inadvertent addition of any anti-woman, pro-rape garbage that you seem to endorse, which perpetuates the cultural challenges we face in America. I encourage other parents to do the same.”
Banks issued an apology to Palin in the form of a letter posted to Tumblr. While she apologized for “reputational scarring” and “emotional distress,” Banks also pointed out some problems she had with Palins Facebook post. Banks claims that the term “running a train” does not insinuate rape but rather group sex. She also notes, “I am an EXTREMELY intelligent woman, Mrs. Palin. ‘Hey Female Rapper,’ was your way to euphemize what you REALLY wanted to say. What you wanted to say was, ‘Hey little Stereotypical Black, Thing!'.”
Will Poulter May 2016
British actor Will Poulter, who may be more well known as the “eyebrow actor”, took to Twitter back in 2016 to express disdain for Miss Banks tweeting “We don't want Donald Trump over here and we don't want Azealia Banks. Proud to be British.” on May 11th, and the next day tweeting “Incredible @AZEALIABANKS thinks people in the UK are most mad at her for her comments about the rap scene. IT'S BECAUSE OF YOUR RACIST COMMENTS!” Banks has not replied to these blows.
A photo has surfaced of the two of them meeting at what seems to be an airport. People on Twitter speculate who asked who for the picture.
Brazil January 2017/October 2023
Back in 2017, Banks' Facebook account was deleted in response to racist insults thrown towards Brazilians. Banks starts the nationwide feud by posting "Does Portuguese use the upside down question mark like Spanish ¿I can haz Farofa [crumb]? or I can haz farofa? Which one?"
This did not fare well with her Brazilian audience who quickly came to their own defense. However, many of these upset responders used Banks’s comments as justification to hurl racial slurs and misogynistic comments towards Banks prompting her to double down in her prejudiced comments saying "I didn't know they had internet in the favela," she wrote “When are all of these third world freaks going to stop spamming my page with broken English over things they know nothing about. It’s hilarious to be called a “black whore” by a white Brazilian. Did they check their economy first tho?!”
Banks has continued to express her dislike of Brazilians including singer Anita and soccer player Neymar Jr who she called out in a long Instagram story tirade. Banks demands Brazil “leave her alone” calling the country a “half rape, third world busted looking f------ wannabe” then begins to throw hits at Anita. Among insults calling her a third world Beyonce, Banks says “Nobody like you Anita you is wild ugly. Your nose is crazy. Your nose is crazy. You got that third world like, yeah you got that 1975 Jackson five nostril. B---- you need to hit up Beverly hills and get that redone because that’s really what’s holding you back” further suggesting she “get on your Bossa nova s---" to spark originality.
These comments are in response to her Instagram story posted two days earlier where she criticized the new Skims ad that featured Brazilian soccer star Neymar Jr. Reposting a slide from a men’s Skims campaign onto her story, Banks overlayed the picture of Neymar Jr with “No @kimkardashian not this one he too skinny. More BOSA BOSA…He not pack-packin, don’t ruin a good thang sis” which is likely what prompted Brazilian soccer fans to run to her comments.
Aer Lingus Airlines/ Ireland January 2019
One of many airlines identified on the feud list is Aer Lingus, an Irish airline company. In January 2019, Banks took to her Instagram story to complain about how the airline allegedly asked her to get off her flight after she got into a quarrel with a flight attendant asking for Banks’ passport information.Banks reportedly asked the flight attendant not to stare at her. However, Aer Lingus reports that the two guests disembarked on their own accord.
Though Banks’ tirade stemmed from an incident concerning the Airline Company, the artist subsequently lashed out at Irish people and Ireland as a whole, making remarks like “The girls have scurvy, they're like vitamin deficient” and “I’m happiest knowing the Irish are quarantined on an isle so they can continue to inbreed and keep their defective genes away from humanity.”
Several years later, Banks has evidently doubled down on her hatred for Ireland. In June of 2021 Banks reportedly stated that she has made many mistakes but calling out Aer Lingus was not one of them saying:
"Aer Lingus flight attendants are still the ugliest, most ratchet, rude, racist and drunk hires in the entire Airline industry though," “I don’t take that back.
“Y’all r [are] b****** are burnt as hell.
“I will gladly take the 8 hour ferry from England to Ireland to avoid yall leprechaun ass b******.”
Megan Markle January 2020
At the beginning of the decade, Banks posted an Instagram story titled “2020-2030 predictions” in which she gave her followers her hottest takes on what’s to come in the next ten years, including “Meghan Markle killed in Car Crash (2022).” Many Meghan Markle fans were left upset by Banks’ comments, going to Twitter to express their frustration, one saying “I just think it’s so disrespectful and gross how she ‘predicted’ Meghan’s death like that. You don’t play like that because words are powerful af and she’s essentially playing with my girls life like.”
Other premonitions included were, “Naomi Campbell marrying into royalty. A MUCH younger duke or an earl (2023) …Goop company value reaches 1 trillion dollars (2029) … [and] cure for Parkinson’s disease (2024.)” Somewhat surprisingly Banks did not predict the worldwide pandemic that was to come a couple of months later.
Adrian Grenier May 2020
In true Banks fashion, she posts a multiple-part video series via Instagram going into detail about her alleged hookup with Grenier, where Banks attempts to out him as homosexual. Grenier did not respond to these claims.
Candace Owens June 2021/ March 2024
On June 18th Banks called out Candace Owens for tweeting:
“Juneteenth is sooo lame. Democrats really need to stop trying to repackage segregation. I’ll be celebrating July 4th and July 4th only. I’m American.”
Banks posted a screenshot of Owen’s tweet to Instagram captioning the post:
“According to this logic, on July 4, 1776, you would still be enslaved “Most likely on the verge of starvation due to all of America’s food supply having been prioritized for the war, while you hand sew American flags and struggle to wet nurse some depressed 24-year-old white widow’s sickly child until your nipples are chapped and dry.”
In March of this year, Banks also replied to a post by Owens promoting her cameo on Joe Budden’s podcast where the two spoke on her disagreements with feminism, LGBTQ, and the fat acceptance movement. Banks wrote on an Instagram story in response to Owens “These are not politics, these are opinions. And they are tired as hell.”
However, back in 2021, Banks included Owens in a list of people she loves.
Brad Pitt Sept. 2021
In a series of unprompted and further unexplained cryptic Instagram story posts, Banks posted an ominous black screen with the text “Are you ready to die Brad Pitt?” Brad Pitt has yet to respond.
Julia Fox January 2022
Following actress Julia Fox’s Split from Kanye West, a musician who Banks has at times been in favor of and at others expressed great disdain for, Banks commented her opinions on the two's relationship, saying it was nothing more than a PR stunt. Banks also posted a series of alleged texts received from Fox who outed her as transphobic and homophobic as well as asking Banks to stop speaking about Fox’s son. Banks overlayed the screenshot with text that read “okay, your son is a crack baby.” Fox replied by posting a screenshot of a text Banks allegedly sent her reading “Julia who sells Molly and Percocet in NYC?” with Fox writing “so it has come to my attention that this troll keeps calling me a junkie umm sis do you recall @azealiabanks.”
Gigi Hadid October 2022
Banks posted an Instagram story saying “Gigi Hadid you are not the doll. Bella Hadid is the doll. You’re the cabbage patch. She’s the barbie.” Kanye West reposted the video to his Instagram days later.
Australia December 2022
Back in 2022 Banks announced she was canceling performances in Brisbane after performing in Sydney days before saying this would be her farewell tour to Australia. At Banks' last show in Brisbane, the crowd was reportedly throwing things on stage, understandably frustrating Banks who took to her Instagram story to say: “I am a beautiful black woman and I am not going to get in front of some audience of white people for them to be throwing shit at me. I am so not sorry.”
Banks reunited this feud in May of 2023 citing the reason for Australia’s lack of culture to be “ their country's historical postcolonial obsession” and “doesn’t really have many music acts that anyone truly cares about on a global scale because they’re in a vacuum of off-brand British culture [...] they have actually created one of the most culturally stale white nations on the planet.” Banks revisited her opinions on Australia after an “unpreferred” remix of her song New Bottega was released by Australian House music producer, Torren Foot.
DC Young Fly June 2023
Banks was quick to blame DC Young Fly, a Wild N’ Out comedian, and his karma as being the reason his partner Jacky Oh, also a Wild N’ Out comedian, passed away back in May of 2023.
The feud with DC Young Fly began back in 2018 when Banks battled against Young Fly in a rap battle that ended poorly. Young Fly hurtled lyric at Banks, “My boy Nick Cannon is so petty, he couldn’t get Cardi B, so he got Azealia’s ugly a—” which enraged Banks so much so that she grabbed the mic from him and declared his comment to be anti-black.
Likening Young Fly’s comments to the demise of Oh who passed undergoing cosmetic surgery, Banks posted on her Instagram story:
“DC Young Fly spent years disusing his own deeply rooted hatred of self as jokes pointed at women’s beauty, Projecting his own feelings about his own ugliness unto women perfectly secure in their own skin… I’m happy I cried and moved on. That Jackie o girl must have been so deeply insecure about herself. And the nerve of DC to call such a gorgeous woman as Azealia Banks ugly on National television while a bunch of black people laughed,”
She then seemed to further insinuate that Oh’s death was her doing, saying in the next slide “And ironically, Dead at 32 exactly on my 32nd birthday, May 31st, 2023 In Miami, FL. You n----- are going to learn to stop f------ with me.”
Brett Ann Nelson (March 2024)
Some of us interested in the music and fashion scene may have noticed a shift in Doja Cat’s branding as of late. Brett Ann Nelson is to blame/award, depending on your positioning, for this as he acts as Doja Cat’s stylist and creative director. Banks seems to disfavor Doja’s new style, posting on her Instagram story in March: “
“Brett Ann Nelson is to blame for making doja think anyone outside of hairy belly nonbinary artsy-fauxmo’s in Bushwick think uglyworldwide’s brand of exhaustion, cigarettes and street pissing is fab. Brett can you stop pushing weird queer counter culture stuff on doja and let her give her kawaii-kitty core realness. I really miss doja pamyu pamyu. What have you done with doja re-bang bang?”
Sun-Maid Raisin April 2024
Most recently added to the Azealia Banks feud list is the Sun Maid Raisin, who on April 23rd of this year, Banks posted a picture of Oregon Grape Root from a brand called Pilgrims Friend where Banks insinuated that the mascot “ate miss sun maid raisin right the f--- on up.”