Rapper Azealia Banks was supposed to take the main stage at Wynwood Pride at 1 a.m. Saturday. But when she arrived hours later, her set didn’t last long.
Banks, a controversial performer who was billed as a headliner for the first day of the LGBTQ music festival, stormed off the stage in the middle of her performance. Fans booed and jeered at the rapper. She responded with two middle fingers.
Video captured by Miami Herald reporters show what led to the rapper’s early exit after her late arrival.
Hours before Banks was scheduled to perform, the first day of the three-day festival at the RC Cola Plant went relatively smoothly. The crowd grew larger as the night went on, and fans enjoyed the DJ sets and drag artists performing on stage.
By 1 a.m., hundreds of fans were at the stage, dancing to a DJ’s music and waiting. And they waited. And waited. And waited.
The DJ on stage tried her best to keep the crowd’s energy up, but by 2:30 a.m., people grew frustrated. Some chanted for a refund. Others chanted, “Bring her out!”
Finally, around 3 a.m., Banks walked on stage. She wore a bodysuit that exposed her breasts. The crowd loved it.
But things took a turn a couple songs into the performance. Banks, who noticeably had low energy while performing, took a break from rapping to speak to the crowd about her frustrations with the event organizers.
“I was being f—ed with,” she said. According to Banks, the event had gone back and forth about whether or not she would be a headliner and changed her set times.
Banks’ words offended performers who were in the VIP section. Some yelled at her to go home. Several, including well-known drag artist Miss Toto, left.
Azealia Banks continued to perform a couple of more songs, but stopped again. This time, she told the audience she didn’t want to be there. Then came the boos. Banks threw her microphone when it was turned off. As she walked away, someone threw water from a bottle on her.
Banks is notorious for controversy and Twitter beef. The rapper, who is bisexual, has went on homophobic and transphobic rants in the past. Despite her behavior, Banks has retained an LGBTQ fanbase for years.
But the chaotic performance at Wynwood Pride doesn’t bode well for the rapper’s reputation in her new home city. Banks moved to Miami last year.
Later Saturday morning, Banks took to Twitter to give her side of the story. She said that she was originally booked for 10 p.m. and the promoter moved her set to 1 a.m. (The schedule that was posted on Wynwood Pride’s website listed that Banks would perform at 1 a.m. The festival was supposed to end at 3 a.m.)
