Azealia Banks Cancels UK Festival Performances Over Political Statement
Musician Azealia Banks shared on Wednesday that she has decided to pull out of two festivals in the UK after being asked to make a pro-Palestinian statement on stage.
Earlier this week, Banks announced on X that she would no longer perform at London’s Maiden Voyage Festival and Hampshire’s Boomtown Festival. She stated that the event promoter insisted she deliver pro-Palestinian messages during her set.
“So I’m canceling both Boomtown and Maiden Voyage. The promoter isn’t acknowledging the need to support Palestine and is coercing me to detach myself from the lineup unless I do,” she wrote.
In her lengthy posts, Banks continued to express displeasure, claiming both festivals implied they would remove her from the bill if she didn’t comply. “They’re essentially trying to bully me—hinting that if I don’t express support for Palestine, I’ll be cut from the gig, but I feel it’s just not related to what I actually believe,” she remarked.
Despite her frustrations, she added, “If they want to pressure me and shape the music scene around this, that’s their choice, but the ethics of consumption under capitalism are questionable at best.”
Her commentary wasn’t finished, as she clarified that she holds no resentment towards the people of Gaza or Palestine, but she feels worn out by the political drama surrounding it. “I’m not against Palestine, but I’m tired of the slogans and the performative aspects,” she said.
She also voiced concerns about the media’s approach, stating, “It’s as if you all start throwing around terms like genocide and Zionist without fully comprehending them.”
According to a statement from Boomtown Festival, they contested Banks’ assertion regarding the promoter’s demand but confirmed she would not be performing. “Following her early morning post on X, Azealia Banks will withdraw from the lineup. To clarify, Boomtown does not dictate the personal beliefs of its performers,” they noted.
The Maiden Voyage Festival has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding Banks’ withdrawal.
