Promoter hits back at rapper Azealia Banks for ‘slanderous’ comments

A music promotor has hit back after Azealia Banks trashed them online following her disastrous national tour, which wrapped up over the weekend.

The New York rapper, 31, lashed out in a fiery rant on Instagram on Tuesday, accusing her Australian touring agents Bizarro and Point Productions of being ‘scams’ and trying to get out of paying her – claims the promoters have since denied.

In a lengthy statement, Bizarro called Banks’ comments ‘inaccurate, disrespectful and slanderous’.

‘While we don’t generally expect contracted artists to assist us in promoting their shows, we certainly haven’t ever had an artist actively work against us like this,’ they said in the statement on Tuesday. 

‘We were not naïve to Azealia’s reputation, but we were excited by her as an artist and felt confident that these were over-sensationalised by the media and that she meant well,’ they continued. 

‘The lack of care she shows to her team, the people she works with, and her fans was truly disappointing to see.’

Bizarro went on to criticise Banks’ alleged tardiness and social media rants, and additionally rubbished her claims she had not been paid.

‘She has claimed to have not been paid a dime, despite the fact her generous artist fees have been paid by us in full,’ the statement continued. 

‘While we have paid our fees to Azealia’s touring agent, we have also been led to believe that the majority of her tour has been paid to her personally in full.

‘Her slanderous claims made against us personally as individuals and scammers are entirely false.’

The dispute between Banks and her promoters exploded on Tuesday when she took to Instagram to call Australia ‘broke and racist’.

‘So this will be my last time touring Australia,’ the 212 hitmaker began. 

‘The entire run was a set-up scam between Bizarro and Point Blank Productions. Both promoters got paid off of my hard work and are now trying to cite all these stupid things as reasons not to pay me a dime,’ she alleged.

‘I flew all the way across the world to go home empty-handed. Sweet. I will not be back.’ 

Banks added in a subsequent post: ‘Y’all white people down here are broke and racist LMAO.’

Banks insisted she had a ‘gut instinct’ not to visit Australia, and warned other artists to think twice about working with Bizarro and Point Productions.

‘Artists: if you or your agents are contacted by either Bizarro or Point Blank Productions in Australia DO NOT REPLY. It’s a scam,’ she claimed. 

‘There will be impossible slave-like structure to the contract at which point they will use any and every point to not pay you,’ she wrote.

‘These Australian promoters are really some PUBIC LICE.’ 

Banks, who recently referred to Australia as a ‘third-world country’, went on to claim the Aussie dollar’s exchange rate was so poor it wouldn’t be worth taking legal action. 

‘$1 AUD = .61 USD,’ she wrote in one post, before adding: ‘Honestly, I’m not trying to rag on Australia even more than I have been, but this little 61 cents to the dollar… I’d spend a lot more money trying to sue these Australian promoters for their little Australian pennies than I would if you just count it as charity.

‘The ever-charitable, generous queen Azealia Banks. I’m not just a charity for f**kin’ Australia. I hope y’all enjoyed the shows. I had fun. I did. I enjoyed myself. I’m not coming back down here.’

Point Productions has since denied Banks’ accusations in a statement to Daily Mail Australia.

‘Point Productions is aware of recent disparaging comments by Ms Banks about us, and about her experience during her tour of Australia,’ the statement reads.

‘Her allegations against us are untrue and we disagree with her comments. We deliver the highest standard of excellence to all of our talent. Ms Banks was no exception.

‘We can confidently say that we did everything possible to meet Ms Banks’ expectations, and to create an accommodating and safe experience for her, her fans and everyone involved at the shows and on tour.’

Banks also dramatically cancelled her Brisbane show at the last minute, saying the last time she performed there was the most ‘racist’ and ‘demoralising’ experience of her life. 

In 2013, Banks was targeted by Australian fans throwing items at her on stage and she later described Aussie crowds as ‘violent and belligerent’.

Banks apparently agreed to perform in Brisbane on her 2022 tour, despite her initial reluctance, on the condition that security measures were beefed up – but she later backed out, claiming her requests had been disregarded.

‘After this run this will be my very last time touring Australia,’ she said.

‘This place makes me utterly miserable and I’m too black and beautiful to have a bunch of white people in my face playing with me over their weak a** currency.’