Azealia Banks pulled out of two UK festivals and is threatening legal action after claiming she was pressured to make a statement about Palestine.
Azealia Banks pulled out of two major UK music festivals after claiming organizers tried to coerce her into making a political statement about Palestine—and now she’s threatening legal action.
The outspoken rapper announced she will no longer perform at Boomtown and Maiden Voyage, both scheduled for August, alleging that promoters pressured her to publicly say “Free Palestine” or risk being dropped from the lineup.
“So guys, I am cancelling Boomtown and Maiden Voyage,” she tweeted earlier this week. “The promoters have been stressing me out for weeks trying to force me to say free Palestine and threatening to cut me from the bill because I won’t say free Palestine and I’m not dealing with the threats and I’m not putting on a f###### hijab.”
Banks continued her rant, accusing the festivals of “trying to extort me – by insinuating that I need to say I support Palestine or they will drop me from the gig BUT I would much rather drop them and not associate with anything that has cheap group think b####### attached to it.”
She also labeled the situation as “overt antisemitism” before concluding with “#FUCKPALESTINE.”
So guys, I am cancelling Boomtown and Maiden Voyage, the promoters have been stressing me out for weeks trying to force me to say free Palestine and threatening to cut me from the bill because I won’t say free Palestine and I’m not dealing with the threats and I’m not putting on…
— Azealia Banks (@azealiaslacewig) June 25, 2025
Boomtown organizers responded publicly, confirming her exit:
“Following her post on X, we can confirm Azealia Banks has withdrawn from the line-up and will no longer be performing. For clarity, Boomtown does not and will never dictate the personal views and beliefs of performers.”
Maiden Voyage echoed the same, stating that a replacement act would be announced soon.
Azealia Banks Slams Boomtown, Threatens Lawsuit
But Banks wasn’t done. She fired back at Boomtown’s statement, calling it “F###### LIES.”
She then posted a screenshot of a letter from someone on her team, who had been in contact with festival officials. The message said both festivals were planning to remove her due to mounting pressure from boycott groups, other artists, partners and sponsors over her recent social media activity.
The letter also suggested that a public statement from Banks might help reverse the decision but warned that legal complications could follow.
Hi Azealia
I just had further long call with the heads of Boomtown and Maiden Voyage , the update is that both festivals feel they no longer have any choice but to write a joint statement taking you off the line-up
Both festivals are under spiralling pressure,…— Azealia Banks (@azealiaslacewig) June 26, 2025
Banks made her next move clear: “Ok so now comes the lawsuit and in discovery id like to find out who the artists and sponsors are so i can sue them too. We’re not having this.”
Ok so now comes the lawsuit and in discovery id like to find out who the artists and sponsors are so i can sue them too.
We’re not having this.
— Azealia Banks (@azealiaslacewig) June 26, 2025
Related
