Challenges Faced by Azealia Banks: Obstacles and Turning Points

A closer look at the defining struggles that shaped Azealia Banks's life and career.

Azealia Banks is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter known for her music and controversial social media presence. Hailing from Harlem, she gained recognition after releasing music on Myspace and later signed with XL Recordings. Her breakthrough song "212" was highly acclaimed, considered a defining track of the 2010s by prominent music publications. Banks continues to be a figure of public interest due to her outspoken and often contentious online activity.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

2015: Homophobic language incident

In 2015, Azealia Banks used homophobic language when she called a flight attendant a "fucking faggot" during an "in-flight meltdown". She later posted a "Twitter tirade" against the LGBT community.

May 11, 2016: Tweets towards Zayn Malik

On May 11, 2016, Azealia Banks posted a series of Tweets that Time said were "racially-charged" and "inappropriate" towards Zayn Malik.

October 2020: Twitter Suspension

In October 2020, Azealia Banks' Twitter account was suspended following remarks about the COVID-19 vaccine that were deemed transphobic.

2020: Comments on gay men and horse culture

In 2020, Azealia Banks said gay men were "appropriating horse culture" by using harnesses, ketamine, and sexual lubricant.

2020: Ordered to seek mental health treatment

In 2020, during a plea deal in Manhattan Court to avoid prison time for assault, Azealia Banks was ordered to seek mental health treatment.

2021: Comments on trans women

In 2021, Azealia Banks stated that trans women are "just gay boys on hormones using male aggression to force their ways into women's spaces".

April 2022: Controversial Comments on Ukraine and Russia

In April 2022, Azealia Banks posted an Instagram story repeatedly chastising Ukraine in the 2022 Russian invasion of the country, claiming, without evidence, that Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy prevented African exchange students from leaving the country, also claiming without evidence that Ukraine was using its embassies in African countries to recruit mercenaries to fight in Ukraine.

October 2022: Instagram Suspension

In October 2022, Azealia Banks was suspended from Instagram.

November 2023: Accusations against Diplo

In November 2023, Azealia Banks accused record producer Diplo of sexual coercion during their collaborations when she was a minor, alleging he pressured her for sex in exchange for music and withheld tracks, also accusing him of misconduct towards other women.

2023: Views on gender-affirming surgery funding

In 2023, Azealia Banks argued that state funding for other healthcare issues should take precedence over funding for gender-affirming surgery, which she compared to cosmetic surgery.

July 2025: Mockery of Ukrainian marine

In July 2025, Azealia Banks mocked Ukrainian marine Oleksandr Kiriienko's emaciated appearance following his Russian captivity, writing on X, "Well, something needed to stop his fat a** from eating."