Azealia Banks and Matty Healy recently became embroiled in a public feud that escalated into legal threats. It began when Azealia Banks made a critical comment about Charli XCX’s appearance on social media, prompting Matty Healy, the frontman of The 1975, to defend Charli (who is engaged to his bandmate George Daniel). Healy accused Banks of being jealous and made remarks about her career, which led to a heated exchange.
Azealia Banks and Matty Healy engage in heated exchange on Twitter/X. pic.twitter.com/ZLf7DjOOr9
— Pop Base (@PopBase) December 4, 2024
Azealia Banks is an American rapper and singer known for her outspoken personality and controversial public statements, as well as hits like ‘212‘. She has often been involved in public disputes with other artists. Matty Healy is the lead singer of The 1975, an English band known for its genre-blending music and cultural commentary. A standout example is ‘Love It If We Made It‘ from their 2018 album ‘A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships‘. The song is a chaotic and impassioned reflection on contemporary society, capturing themes such as political unrest, social media culture, celebrity worship, and environmental degradation. Healy has been candid about his personal struggles and is no stranger to controversy, often using social media to voice his opinions. The conflict intensified when Healy allegedly made violent threats and derogatory comments about Banks and her physical appearance. Banks retaliated with personal insults about Healy and his fiancée, Gabbriette Bechtel.
Azealia Banks responds to Matty Healy’s apology. pic.twitter.com/wySlQXf7d0 — Pop Base (@PopBase) December 4, 2024
This online spat culminated in Banks issuing a cease-and-desist letter demanding a public apology and $1 million in damages, alleging defamation and threats of violence. In the letter, Banks claimed that Healy’s statements, including threats to “slap” her, were harmful and demanded immediate cessation of defamatory remarks. Social media platforms flagged and removed some of Healy’s posts, citing policy violations. Healy apologized for suggesting violence but stood by his defense of his friends. He has since deactivated his X account.
A rat, bitch, physical threats. Now matt healy is getting sued and Charli xcx is still botched now fucking what? pic.twitter.com/gkiGAI44hj
— Azealia Banks (@azealiaslacewig) December 4, 2024
Matty Healy has deactivated his X account multiple times in the past, often following controversies or backlash over his statements. For example, in September 2023, he deactivated his account after criticism from Lucy Dacus over an offensive tweet. He has also faced backlash for remarks made about various topics, including sensitive social and cultural issues, prompting him to step away from the platform temporarily or permanently during heated moments.
Healy has faced significant controversy for comments and actions many view as offensive toward black women and other marginalized groups, which Azealia Banks also drew attention to. One of the most notable incidents involved a February 2023 episode of ‘The Adam Friedland Show‘ podcast. During this appearance, Healy joined in mocking rapper Ice Spice with racially charged remarks, referring to her as an “Inuit Spice Girl” and a “chubby Chinese lady” while laughing at offensive impressions of Asian accents.
This case highlights how social media disputes among celebrities can quickly escalate into legal battles, with significant reputational and financial stakes.
