Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Azealia Banks banned from UK festival after posting racist tweets towards Zayn Malik

American rapper Azealia Banks has been dropped from her headlining slot at British Born & Bred musical festival after posting racist and homophobic tweets towards Zayn Malik.

Banks began trending worldwide on Twitter after she posted the string of comments which referred to the former One Direction star in highly derogatory terms.


Rinse FM, which had recently booked Banks to headline their festival in July, said: “We have decided to cancel Azealia Banks’ headline appearance at Rinse Born & Bred.

“Rinse Born & Bred is a celebration of rave culture and has been created for everyone. We celebrate inclusivity and equality.”

Banks, 24, has claimed that Malik copied her work for his new video, Like I Would, though she added that she liked the singer and thought he was a “cutie pie”.

But when the Yorkshire-born singer who is half Pakistani, tweeted: “I see you reaching but I don’t care … My @’s too good for you,”

Banks assumed it was about her and began sending abuse his way, including saying he was a member of One Direction only “to draw brown attention”.

Banks also posted a string of derogatory comments about the UK rap scene, saying that British rappers “never have swag” and British rap music was a “disgrace” to the genre.

The singer has been the centre of controversy in the past, having aimed tirades at a range of artists including Iggy Azalea, Rita Ora and Lily Allen.

In March she was forced to apologise after former US politician Sarah Palin threatened to sue the rapper for a series of derogatory tweets.

On Wednesday social media users, including Lily Allen, called on Twitter to suspend Banks. “Why do the Police shut down @Giggs or@nines1ace raves but @AZEALIABANKS is cool to just come here threatening to bring arms?” Allen wrote. “Don’t get it.”

More For You

Indian-students-Ireland

The deceased, Cherekuri Suresh Chowdary and Chithoori Bhargav, were pronounced dead at the scene. (Photo: X/@allaboutcarlow)

Car crash in Ireland kills two Indian students, two hospitalised

TWO Indian students in their 20s died, and two others were seriously injured after their car crashed into a tree in County Carlow, Ireland, early on Friday, Irish police said.

The deceased, Cherekuri Suresh Chowdary and Chithoori Bhargav, were pronounced dead at the scene. The two others, a man and a woman, were taken to St Luke's General Hospital in Kilkenny with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer-Getty

Starmer will also meet Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte. (Photo: Getty Images)

Starmer becomes first UK prime minister to attend EU meeting since Brexit

KEIR STARMER is visiting Brussels to join a meeting of European Union leaders, making him the first British prime minister to do so since Brexit.

The talks will focus on defence, security cooperation, and trade. Starmer will also meet Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Keep ReadingShow less
Nirmala-Sitharaman-Reuters

India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the annual budget on Saturday, February 1. (Photo: Reuters)

Key points from India's 2025 budget

INDIA will focus on increasing the spending power of its middle class, encouraging private investment, and promoting inclusive development, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday while presenting the annual budget.

Sitharaman said the budget for 2025-26 includes measures for the poor, youth, farmers, and women. She also highlighted "transformative reforms in taxation."

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer seeks strong protections for military base in Chagos deal

Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a meeting with business leaders on January 28, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Benjamin Cremel - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Starmer seeks strong protections for military base in Chagos deal

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer and his Mauritian counterpart Navin Ramgoolam on Friday (31) spoke directly for the first time about the Chagos Islands deal, Starmer's office said.

Britain and its former colony reached a deal last October to hand back Chagos -- which it kept control of after Mauritius gained independence in the 1960s -- provided a UK-US military base remains on the largest island, Diego Garcia.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tommy Robinson supporters and anti-racism groups to face off

Supporters of Tommy Robinson carry a banner in Parliament Square. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)

Tommy Robinson supporters and anti-racism groups to face off

PROTESTERS supporting far-right activist Tommy Robinson and anti-racism campaigners will gather in central London on Saturday (1), with police deploying extra officers to maintain order and prevent clashes.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is serving an 18-month prison sentence for breaching a High Court injunction. His supporters, rallying under the banners "Stop the Isolation" and "Unite the Kingdom," will assemble near Waterloo Station from midday before marching to Whitehall.

Keep ReadingShow less