Aussie rapper Ivan Ooze has taken to social media to criticise fellow rapper Azealia Banks, citing disappointment with the New York native’s recent comments about Australian music fans, whom she labelled “violent and belligerent”.
Ooze opened for Banks during the rapper’s Splendour In The Grass sideshows, a decision he now says he regrets. “As an up and coming artist I was very excited to support Azealia Banks, who was once one of my favourite artists,” Ooze writes on Facebook.
“From the shows I played with her in Sydney and Melbourne, the vibe was incredible and literally out of this world and I don’t think I have ever performed to such energetic and supportive Australian crowds.”
“I went out into the crowds after the shows and I only received thoughtful words and praise of how awesome Azealia’s show was.” However, Ooze goes on to state that he doesn’t agree with Banks’ recent Twitter comments about Australians.
“The comments Azaelia has made on her twitter, including death threats and homophobic slurs towards Australians shows that she is just a cyber bully and doesn’t deserve to tour this country,” Ooze writes.
“I am super grateful for the chance to play in front of the awesome crowds over the weekend, but I don’t support cyber bullying and I now regret supporting Azaelia Banks. She obviously just craves the bad attention and feeds off it so in the words of Lisa Simpson ‘just don’t look’.”
As an up and coming artist I was very excited to support Azealia Banks, who was once one of my favourite artists. From…
Posted by Ivan Ooze onTuesday, July 28, 2015
As Tone Deaf reported yesterday, just days after completing a well-received set at the popular Byron Bay festival, the controversial rapper and singer took to Twitter to criticise Australian punters, labelling them “terrible crowds” who are “violent and belligerent”.
Banks’ tweets came in response to Brisbane radio announcer Paul Brown, who tweeted a tongue-in-cheek congratulations to the Harlem, New York native for completing her “first ever full Australian concert”, poking fun at her reputation for storming off stage mid-set.
“Because in all actuality, you guys are terrible crowds to play for,” Banks fired back at Brown. “You’re violent and belligerent and I simply will not put my safety at risk. I would’ve walked off stage had someone thrown something.”
“Plus you guys are too far away and honestly, the show guarantees are never really worth the trip,” the ever divisive artist continued. “But I love my fans and will do anything to make them happy. Sincerely, AB.”
[include_post id=”455234”]
After responding to a fan who suggested the artist should be grateful for the opportunity to play in Australia — “Bitch, I have money. I can go to OZ whenever the fuck I want” — Banks later took aim at the organisers of Splendour In The Grass for alleged disrespect.
“I saw that shitty blurb [you] wrote about me in the artist book. It was obviously written by some divisive white person,” Banks wrote. “All the things you could’ve written about me you chose that. I don’t think I want to work with you all anymore.”
“Truly a waste of my fucking time. I don’t need to travel 24hrs to be disrespected.” Banks then fired more barbs at the direction of Brown, writing, “This is how Australian men turn up dead. Keep fucking around bitch.”
