Azealia Banks has pulled out of two festivals in the UK after claiming organisers tried to pressure her to support Palestine.
The rapper, 34, was due to perform at Maiden Voyage festival in Burgess Park, London and Boomtown near Winchester in Hampshire in August.
However, on Wednesday she revealed she will not take to the stage, alleging that she was being urged to support Palestine - something organisers have denied.
“So guys I am cancelling Boomtown and Maiden Voyage,” she wrote in a lengthy post on X.
“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**king hijab.”
“They’re both basically 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 bulls**t attached to it.”
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
Banks claimed festival promoters had given in to lobbying from “some no-name djs” and “gays for Hamas”.
She added: “And no, I’m not saying f**k actual Palestine. But f**k your dumb a*s slogans and performative bulls**t. Yall wanna make a stance so bad but stand for absolutely nothing.
“That war has been going on in the background for f**king decades. Way before anyone alive today was born.
“And all of a sudden y’all are throwing around words like genocide and Zionist not even knowing the meaning of those words while you drive around in your Teslas and leave comments from your iPhones all built off the backs and the blood of children working in mines from dusk til dawn.”
Banks signed off: “I’m going to enjoy the rest of my summer and make music. It’s time for a new ab record.
“I don’t need to be on stage stressing out to appease some dumb a*s protesters who literally rely on those people in Palestine being crushed so they can solicit donations they DO NOT give to the cause. Kiss my a*s.”
A spokesman for Boomtown festival, which is from August 6 to August 10, said: “Following her post on X in the early hours of this morning, we can confirm that Azealia Banks has withdrawn from the lineup and will no longer be performing at Boomtown Festival.
“For clarity, Boomtown does not and will never dictate the personal views and beliefs of performers.”
The Standard has contacted Maiden Voyage festival for comment.
The festival confirmed on their official Instagram account that Banks has pulled out of performing and added: “The replacement artist will be announced shortly.”
Banks revealed earlier this month that she is a Zionist and supports Israel, writing, “F**k Palestine” on X.
The 212 rapper has sparked controversy with her outspoken views throughout her career, having been accused of homophobia, transphobia and xenophobia in the past.
She previously said she has been diagnosed with PTSD, ADHD and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
