Azealia Banks has dropped out of Boomtown and Maiden Voyage festivals after claiming promoters were trying to force her to say “Free Palestine”.
The rapper was due to play at Boomtown in Hampshire in early August and at Maiden Voyage in Burgess Park, London a few days later, but it now seems that she has pulled out of both appearances.
Writing on X on Wednesday (June 25), Banks wrote: “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 a fucking 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 bullshit 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
“If they want to allow some no-name dj’s to bully them into desecrating the nature of this music ecosystem and make ME the issue – whilst there being absolutely no ethical consumption under capitalism. Then that’s fine.”
“More thinly veiled racism And overt antisemitism from the fucking gays for Hamas,” she concluded, before adding signing off: “#FUCKPALESTINE”.
Since her post, Boomtown Festival have issued a response, saying: “Following her post on X in the early hours of this morning, we can confirm that Azealia Banks has withdrawn from the lineup and will no longer be performing at Boomtown Festival.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.”
NME has contacted the organisers of Maiden Voyage for a response.
In a follow-up post, Banks added: “And no, I’m not saying fuck actual Palestine. But fuck your dumb ass slogans and performative bullshit. Yall wanna make a stance so bad but stand for absolutely nothing. As soon as the media says pedophilia is “natural and normal,” You bitches will be right there talking about #PEDOPHILERIGHTS”
Like I see what yall raggedy bitches are doing and it’s foul.
A bunch of people who didn’t get booked for festivals putting pressure on promoters and artists to drop out of gigs because of some random backwards non-association to Israel.
And honestly the nerve of those…
— Azealia Banks (@azealiaslacewig) June 25, 2025
“Like be fucking forreal,” she continued. “That war has been going on in the background for fucking decades . Way before anyone alive today was born. And all of a sudden yall are throwing around words like genocide and Zionist not even knowing the meaning of those words. While you drive around in ur teslas and leave comments from your iPhones all built off the backs and the blood of children working in mines from dusk til dawn.”
“There is zero ethical consumption under capitalism. EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED TO EVERYTHING.”
She went on to say that she intends to spend the rest of the music making new music, teasing that “it’s time for a new AB record”.
Many artists have opted to take time to speak out in support of a free Palestine this festival season, including Fontaines D.C., IDLES, Sam Fender, Public Enemy, Peaches and Kid Cudi.
Kneecap also used their Coachella set to speak out on the same issue. Since then, they have been charged in court over footage showing Mo Chara displaying a Hezbollah flag on stage. The band have consistently denied supporting either Hamas or Hezbollah and have said they do not incite or condone violence.
Banks, meanwhile, has been no stranger to courting controversy during her career. In recent months, she has launched a scathing attack on Doechii and claimed that her success was “giving DEI hire”, and criticised Bebe Rexha’s physical appearance at the Met Gala, causing Rexha to reveal her pregnancy loss.
Last December, she issued a cease and desist letter to The 1975’s Matty Healy, demanding $1million in damages while claiming that he had threatened physical violence against her in an online war of words.
English (US) · 