Azealia Banks storms off stage at Wynwood Pride after arriving late. What set her off?

Rapper Azealia Banks was alleged to take the primary stage at Wynwood Delight at 1 a.m. Saturday. However when she arrived hours later, her set didn’t final lengthy.

Banks, a controversial performer who was billed as a headliner for the primary day of the LGBTQ music competition, stormed off the stage in the course of her efficiency. Followers booed and jeered on the rapper. She responded with two center fingers.

Video captured by Miami Herald reporters present what led to the rapper’s early exit after her late arrival.

Hours earlier than Banks was scheduled to carry out, the primary day of the three-day competition on the RC Cola Plant went comparatively easily. The group grew bigger because the evening went on, and followers loved the DJ units and drag artists acting on stage.

By 1 a.m., a whole bunch of followers had been on the stage, dancing to a DJ’s music and ready. And so they waited. And waited. And waited.

The DJ on stage tried her finest to maintain the gang’s vitality up, however by 2:30 a.m., folks grew pissed off. Some chanted for a refund. Others chanted, “Convey her out!”

Lastly, round 3 a.m., Banks walked on stage. She wore a bodysuit that uncovered her breasts. The group cherished it.

However issues took a flip a pair songs into the efficiency. Banks, who noticeably had low vitality whereas performing, took a break from rapping to talk to the gang about her frustrations with the occasion organizers.

“I used to be being f—ed with,” she stated. In keeping with Banks, the occasion had gone forwards and backwards about whether or not or not she could be a headliner and adjusted her set instances.

Banks’ phrases offended performers who had been within the VIP part. Some yelled at her to go residence. A number of, together with well-known drag artist Miss Toto, left.

Banks continued to carry out a few extra songs, however stopped once more. This time, she instructed the viewers she didn’t wish to be there. Then got here the boos. Banks threw her microphone when it was turned off. As she walked away, somebody threw water from a bottle on her.

She was escorted off stage. The lights had been turned on. Safety started to usher disillusioned, shocked and indignant followers from the RC Cola Plant.

Banks is infamous for controversy and Twitter beef. The rapper, who’s bisexual, has went on homophobic and transphobic rants up to now. Regardless of her conduct, Banks has retained an LGBTQ fanbase for years.

However the chaotic efficiency at Wynwood Delight doesn’t bode properly for the rapper’s status in her new residence metropolis. Banks moved to Miami final 12 months.

Later Saturday morning, Banks took to Twitter to provide her aspect of the story. She stated that she was initially booked for 10 p.m. and the promoter moved her set to 1 a.m. (The schedule that was posted on Wynwood Delight’s web site listed that Banks would carry out at 1 a.m. The competition was supposed to finish at 3 a.m.)

Banks additionally claimed that there was dry ice on stage that gave her an allergic response. In a Twitter thread, she stated that somebody spit water at her “from his hpv lesion infested mouth,” and she or he made inflammatory statements about “the Hispanic residents in south Florida.”

A fan requested Banks why she confirmed up hours late. “While you rent glam squad drummers guitarist DJs safety guards and a whole crew who anticipate to work from 7, and your tour Supervisor is alerted that your set time is now 1 AM folks need to rearrange their total itinerary. Excessive unprofessionality,” she responded.

Wynwood Delight declined to remark.

After Wynwood Delight introduced its lineup final month, the Miami Herald requested the occasion’s co-founders Jor-El Garcia and José Atencio about reserving Banks as a headliner regardless of her problematic previous. Garcia defended Banks as a result of she apologized for her previous conduct.

“We consider in redemption tradition, not cancel tradition,” Garcia instructed the Herald.

Xyanna Gibbs, 18, stated that she wished Banks to be redeemed, too. “However then she goes and does this? It type of felt like a spit within the face,” she stated.

Regardless, Gibbs stated that the one who threw the drink at Banks crossed a line.

“You don’t need to spit again in her face simply because she did it,” Gibbs stated. “It’s not a watch for a watch.”

As the gang dispersed, Gibbs and a few pals huddled collectively to debate the drama that unfolded. The group of younger folks had been disillusioned and upset.

Mars Tran, 22, stated he had blended emotions about Banks performing due to her previous conduct. He recalled a transphobic incident wherein Banks referred to as Arca, a musician who identifies as a nonbinary trans girl, a boy.

As a transgender man, Tran stated he was shocked {that a} Delight occasion would ebook Banks within the first place.

“Why would you invite this one that clearly stated that they don’t like trans folks and who thinks that they/them pronouns are silly?” Tran stated. “Why would you invite them to an area that’s alleged to be protected?”

Nick Chong, 18, stated they wished not less than a partial refund. It was their first time at Wynwood Delight.

“I’m simply upset that I paid $90 to come back see her after which she carried out 4 songs, didn’t give the vitality after which left,” Chong stated.

Nonetheless, Chong stated they’ll be again for Saturday to see the second headliner, British pop star Marina. They paid for it, in spite of everything.

Lauren Costantino, an viewers engagement producer for the Miami Herald, contributed to this report.

This story was initially printed June 11, 2022 5:13 PM.