Celebrate King's Day with TNW 🎟 Use code GEZELLIG40 on your Business, Investor and Startup passes today! This offer ends on April 29 →

This article was published on April 13, 2016

My Twitter feud with Azealia Banks over Jack Fucking Dorsey


My Twitter feud with Azealia Banks over Jack Fucking Dorsey

Today in two people you didn’t think would be in the same sentence, rapper Azealia Banks claims that Twitter/Square CEO Jack Dorsey promised to tweet about her mixtape if she tweeted about Square’s Cashtag. Evident in his Twitter feed, he did not do so, and she threatened to “hex” him.

https://twitter.com/AZEALIABANKS/status/720239142194454530

As one does on the Twitter, I shared the tweet due to its absurdity – but I didn’t expect Banks herself to come after me with a racially insensitive clap back (since deleted).

https://twitter.com/AZEALIABANKS/status/720269256009494528

The <3 of EU tech

The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!

The escalation! What follows is a series of tweets with Banks particularly interested in my Thai background, asking about some sunscreen she got in Bangkok. I’m happy to help with Thailand-related questions where I can, but girl, you can’t ask for a favor after insulting my character.

https://twitter.com/AZEALIABANKS/status/720269950108078081

I’ll be honest, previous to this exchange, I didn’t follow much of Azealia Banks’ works. I recognize that she’s a pop culture figure, but most times I see her name it’s usually about a controversial comment she’s made – I just didn’t imagine one would ever be directed at me, an obvious nobody.

After some back and forth, however, she took back her comment and claims that having been taken advantage of by men in the past, her tweet was reactionary and she did not mean to offend. It felt more honest than when she retracted the comment on wishing former Alaska governor Sarah Palin sexual assault.

https://twitter.com/AZEALIABANKS/status/720271494119489536

https://twitter.com/AZEALIABANKS/status/720272370531872770

So it’s patriarchy’s fault?

Screen Shot 2016-04-13 at 11.55.20 AM
And I accept, Miss Banks.

Whatever. All’s good in Azealia land. She even told her stans to back off when they hopped on the racist insults train, but naturally, things go off the deep end immediately.

Still, what we really want to know is if Jack Dorsey promised Banks to tweet about her mixtape. In a chat, Banks tells me their exchange was over text, but that conversation has since been deleted and it’s honestly “not that serious.”

I also asked her who Twitter’s new CEO really should’ve been, but Banks did not respond.

Update: Azealia has made her prediction. Remember, blame patriarchy for our racism.

https://twitter.com/AZEALIABANKS/status/720320684585406464

Get the TNW newsletter

Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.

Also tagged with