It has been a total misery for me that this Azealia Banks-Russell Crowe story has gone on all week. I hate covering Banks – she is one of the most deplorable celebrities out there, and if she has a mental illness, I sincerely hope she gets help. But mental illness or not, I suspect she will always be a major a—hole. To recap, RZA brought Banks to a small party at Russell Crowe’s hotel suite. Everyone was chilling out and enjoying some music. Banks started verbally abusing guests, then she started physically threatening guests. Crowe physically removed her from the hotel suite and Banks filed a report claiming Crowe assaulted her, threw the n-word at her and spat on her. Every other person at the party says that Azealia Banks is made of lies and delusions. For days now, we’ve been hearing that RZA took Crowe’s side and backed up his bro when he was interviewed by the police. In a Facebook post yesterday, RZA told his side. You can read the full post here, I’m editing and condensing for space:
She then hits me for a ticket to LA to work and Bong I comply. She then needs a place to stay and bong I put her in a hotel. I returned to LA shortly after and we scheduled a meeting. I invited her to meet me at the BHH Polo Lounge. Yet I had also planned on spending some time with my Buddy RC in his suite so I ask him can she join. He says “cool Bobby” so I invited her.
Before the night is over Azealia is insulting half the room she becomes loud and obnoxious. There was nothing funny about her behavior. I felt a little embarrassed because she was my guest. Still verbal abuse can be tolerated but when it goes physical…Azealia threaten to cut a girl in the face with a glass, then actually grabs a glass and physically attacks for no logical reason. Russell blocked the attack and expelled her from the suite. Seeing is believing and I saw her behave as an obnoxious erratic individual and in the circles I frequent this was unprecedented. I was totally puzzles by her and thought maybe meds or booze or something had her zoned out. Nevertheless I made sure she got home safe.
THIS IS NOT A RACE OR GENDER ISSUE.
I did not hear Russell call her a N::gg:::: I’m not trying to protect Russell from anything he is a man of his own Caliber. My art, talent and success speaks for it self and Azealia’s recent slander of me and self victimization reflect’s the personality of the person that was in that room that night. I have a wife, daughters, sisters and females on my staff so I protect women everyday. I pray none of them ever behave the way I witnessed Azealia Banks behaved that night.
[From RZA’s Facebook]
There’s a build-up to the story which I would suggest people read, because Azealia doesn’t come across as unhinged at all, she comes across like a desperate user. She kept asking RZA for more and more sh-t, and even though people in the industry had warned him about her volatility, he still wanted to help her and he was still rooting for her to win and succeed.
Meanwhile, Banks spoke to Us Weekly and she announced that she’s dropping her battery complaint against Crowe. It’s not as simple as that though, because first she had to talk sh-t about Crowe, saying: “I’ve got youth and beauty, and he’s got beer belly and jowls! I got music. I got music, and I got youth.” When asked about how she’s not going to press charges against Crowe, she said: “Realistically, to be honest, I really don’t want to. Because I just don’t want this in the media. I want my music out. I just want to f–king put my music out. I just want my music to shine. I don’t want to be dealing with another episode, another thing, another whatever.” But she still wants an apology from Crowe. Yeah… after reading RZA’s story, I think she just needs to crawl under whatever rock and hope that she hasn’t completely screwed over all of her chances at making any music ever again.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I don’t know her but she seems like the person who sucks the living life out of you, harassing you and lets vile voice mails days and nights. The type that says “I’ll f..ing kill you” and actually go through with it. She’s unhinged. The type of bully that you try to understand and rationalize with to come to the senses but will shred you. I feel for RZA .. I would be mortified if my guest was a misbehaving toad. I’m sure he thought to get her out and show support, not letting her down but she baits the hands that feed her.
I know I’m not alone in thinking she has mental issues. Even RZA alluded to it in his post.
That doesn’t excuse vile behavior but it also doesn’t negate the very real fact that she needs help. She’s already proven that she’s a danger to herself (just look at what she’s done to her once-promising career) but now that she’s making physical threats, I truly believe that she is a danger to others.
It’s a shame because she is immensely talented and very beautiful but she’s been locked into a pattern of destruction for years now.
I agree with both of you: she seems exhausting AND like she needs help.
Until and unless you’ve had someone in your life with mental illness, it’s hard to comprehend how…comprehensive their disruptions can be. My ex used to scream at me for putting my hair into a ponytail, because he said it changed my face and I looked like a different person, but when I wore it down and messed with the pieces in my face, I was signalling “them.”
Stay at home to chill? The CIA was watching us through smoke detectors,
Take a drive to chill out? The signs around town were placed to torment him with cryptic messages.
Go out to eat? The waiter was “in” on “it”.
Go for a walk in the park? The men maintaining it were part of a community watch group sent to monitor him/protect me.
But because he wasn’t threatening anyone’s life there was nothing anyone could do.
We seriously, seriously need better treatment for the mentally ill and support for their families. It’s killing us.
Yes I agree she’s an a hole but I also think she’s mentally ill and it’s very sad. She is so pretty and so talented, her rap could really be something great and original but she just screws herself over by acting like such a loud mouth, entitled, bigot. It seems like multiple things are going on substance abuse and mental illness and a disordered or difficult personality and a difficult past, etc. Sad
She’s dropping the charges because she knows she doesn’t have a case. As for not wanting all this in the media… um it’s a little late for that.
I hope she’s punished for filing false charges, and I hope RC sues her for defamation of character.
Me too. I also wish people would stop trying to help her until she gets some medical help for herself?
And no one is surprised. Also I’m sick and tired of some giving her the benefit of the doubt because she has a mental illness. Just because you have a mental illness doesn’t mean you get a pass to be a certified a hole all the time. If this were the first time or second time, I get it. But this is a pattern of behavior that’s been seen from Banks for quite sometime and it’s time folks actually start holding her accountable instead of coming up with excuses for her. The excuses allow her to continue her behavior and more importantly give her a pass to not get the help she should be getting.
I know! People keep saying things like “I love her she tells it like it is” “She’s crazy but soooo talented”
Come on. She is not that talented. There are plenty of more talented people. She needs to be let go, enough is enough.
Also am I the only one who rolled her eyes at “I have a wife, daughters, sisters and females on my staff so I protect women everyday. ” I can’t with this ish anymore.
I think he said all that because of some people in his community who said he should have protected her when RC was allegedly choking, assaulting, and spitting on her and calling her the N-word (none of which actually happened). I think he’s saying that, yes, he would protect a woman in the event that she needed protecting, but that was not the case in this situation.
And I agree with you that she’s marginally talented. I watched all the youtube videos I could find of her work over the last few days. I’m still waiting to be blown away by all the talent. I just don’t see it.
@ladysussex
Dont like AB, think she needs help but that doesnt excuse the vile things she has done. People know more about her drama than they do her music
Just a correction though RZA has since reluctantly admitted that Russel Crowe did spit on her .Now whatever she was doing how was that warranted? Is spitting on a woman an acceptable form of self defense ???
A bunch of nasty people all round if you ask me
@sam
This so much!
Sometimes people are just awful. No explanation needed. The rest is people trying to rationalise their awfulness by assigning all sorts of conditions to them.
This is how I feel about it. She is not the face of mental illness. She is just a deplorable human being.
Wait nobody told me that peeps were coming for RZA. Why?
I love him so much–such a talented guy.
But I stopped defending Azealia a long time ago.
She is a mess and absolutely needs to be on medication. She shouldn’t be drinking or doing drugs or doing anything that might exacerbate her condition.
I do not like Russell Crowe but I believe him and RZA.
I cosign this entire statement. She needs to get some help and get her act together. Sounds like RZA was trying to be a decent guy and got sucked in.
I’ve seen comments on Twitter saying that RZA is “caping” for the white man because he wants white acceptance, which is why he is “slandering” RZA. I don’t understand people’s logic of this situation. Yes, black bodies are victimized and brutalized every day. But this was not the case. Russell Crowe prevented her from actually physically harming anyone by throwing her out of the suite and RZA is giving his eye witness account of the situation. I’m sure the other people who were present would corroborate the story too, otherwise someone else would’ve already said that Azealia wasn’t totally 100% in the wrong in this situation or the receipts that Azealia claims she has would be dropped already.
Now, whether or not Russell called her racial slurs OUTSIDE the room is a different story. Maybe he didn’t but maybe he did. We don’t know because the other guests weren’t there to witness what happened outside. But as far as the situation that occurred inside the hotel room, i will believe RZA and Russell’s accounts because they line up with each other. It’s pretty grotesque to come to a dinner party as someone else’s guest and act up the way Azealia did. She threatened people and even used an object to demonstrate her point. And i totally believe that Azealia has untreated mental health issues but it’s getting harder and harder to sympathize with her because it just doesn’t seem like she wants to accept that she needs help at all. RZA tried and she ended up humiliating him in front of his friends and connections.
The other guest (according to reports) gave the similar statements as RZA to the police.
Thanks for explaining that, Tifzlan.
Man, it must be straight-exhausting to be black sometimes. It’s like you have people coming at you from all angles–white people telling you how to act, black people accusing you of betraying your community and on and on…
Too much pressure on black people to be everything to everyone all the time.
Or maybe it’s not like that…again, just my perception as a white chick.
@swak – Well then, i guess i will wait to see if Azealia will drop her so-called receipts on what happened that night. But i feel like if she’s dropped the complaints against Russell, then those receipts won’t be coming out anytime soon either.
@Kitten – I am not black, but i am Southeast Asian and Muslim and it can be very exhausting to be a minority in a white/Christian-majority community sometimes. I’m sure you’ve been watching the presidential debates and have noticed how anytime Muslims are the topic of conversation, it’s almost always limited to our roles on the “front lines” of fighting terrorism across the world. Because we don’t ever contribute to society in any other positive ways except to spy on our families and friends.
On the other hand, it can sometimes be a chore to keep up with my culture and traditions in an extremely fast-paced world which is very much still influenced by Western norms and ideals. It’s very tiring to have to choose between two identities and continuously defend one facet of your being to the other. It doesn’t help when so many “outsiders” (for lack of a better term) are shouting in your ear about who/what exactly you have to be. I imagine a lot of other minorities have felt this one way or another, at some point in their lives too.
@Tifzlan-You articulated that so wonderfully and I found everything you said so moving, but also heart-breaking on a certain level.
I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve never really thought about the dichotomy that young Muslim women face in a western, Christian-based culture with the struggle to honor your Muslim identity while also trying to assimilate.
One of the reasons why I love this site so much is because the commenters here have so much to teach myself and others. Thank for sharing your experience and opening up my eyes.
I am not on twitter but earlier this year RZA made some comments about police brutality which were tantamount to respectability politics as he purposefully distilled the willful murder of young black men to their mode of dress and a lot of people have been giving him the side eye since then (.bear in mind that MLK, Malcolm X , medgar Evers etal were all slaughtered whilst in business attire)
Also it wasnt until his TMZ interview that he reluctantly admitted that Russel DID in fact spit on AB which is nasty and uncalled for if she is acting up by all means put her outside how is spitting any form of seld defense? No its the worst form of disrespect .RSA also did not call out RC on the spitting.
Ii wish AB would go away cant stand her pretty sure she was the instigator but spitting on a woman is never OK
I cosign too, Kitten. Russel Crowe definitely has a past of violent outbursts, but he has gone through counseling and I think having kids was his big wake-up call. He definitely has a douchey past, but he’s made an effort to learn from his mistakes and grow.
It’s nice if he didn’t go the path of Depp and actually learned from his mistakes, you know?
I wish someone in Azealia’s family would intervene and get her the help she needs. I was always rooting for her because she’s extremely talented but the more bridges she burns the more it will be impossible for her to have a “comeback” when and if she seeks treatment and tries to solve her issues.
If I’m not wrong RZA shot a film with Azealia as lead a year ago, so it was actually super nice of him to try to help her networking and find some new opportunities. Such a sad situation alla around.
The problem is no one can compel her to get help. She has to make that choice for herself. An even if somehow her family got her committed on an involuntary hold, it would only be temporary. Chances are she’d be out in a few days if she doesn’t choose to get help for her issues.
Exactly so. See my comment upthread.
She’s just issued a letter of apology to Zayn Malik. Parts of it seem sincere.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/showbiz/555538/Azealia-Banks-public-apology-letter-Zayn-Malik-racist-Twitter-rant
Sigh…it’s a decent apology for sure.
I want to believe that she learned something, I really do.
But she has a history of erratic behavior and I can’t help but wonder if this was a last-ditch attempt at damage control on her part. Maybe she realized that she’s had too many missteps lately and is keenly aware of the three-strike rule.
Or maybe she’s genuinely had a breakthrough moment.
I hope it’s the latter but I don’t have much faith in that…
It has to be a last ditch effort- it’s too weird timing not to be. She’s still demanding an apology from RC – so I don’t buy for a second that she believes “Recent events have taught me the importance of taking accountability for one’s actions.”
If anything, her publicist has realized they better start making nice, or they’re not going to have a client anymore. If she keeps tanking her career, she won’t be able to keep a publicist.
Yep. I’m very inclined to agree with you.
I would say that was the result of a lot of public pressure. Remember, she was dropped from a big music festival after that. Paycheck gone. And as we all now know, she’s basically broke. Zayn Malik is worth around $50 million, had a number 1 album, has a huge social media following and has also branched out into high end fashion. So he’s got juice in the industry right now. Not a good idea to pick a fight with someone so bankable. That apology was probably brought about by a moment of panic. Because if she was sincere she would apologize to the many people she’s offended over the past few years. She hasn’t.
Last week, she said in an interview for the Evening Standard the following… “My mother has never reprimanded me but she reprimanded me after the thing with Zayn [Malik] happened. She was like, ‘Azealia, you hurt a lot of people’. I was like, ‘f**k’.” And pretty soon she starts to cry.
And her rep said Azealia realized she couldn’t expect an apology from RC if she didn’t issue one to Zayn.
Maybe part of the problem is that her mother has never reprimanded her until now?
Still, I’m happy if she’s learned something.
She’s a hot mess and needs some serious help. I’ve heard for years that she makes good music but her antics distract from her talents. And yes, having a mental illness & being a racist assh*le are not mutually exclusive.
The question is why RZA agreed to help her. I mean, Azealia’s reputation proceeds her. If someone came to me who had a track record of racist and homophobic rants plus a rep for being rude, delusional and obnoxious, sorry no can do. Not until and unless you acknowledge and apologize publicly for your past misdeeds and express a desire to deal with whatever the hell is at the root of your troubles.
I hope he’s learned from the misguided attempt at playing Captain-Save-A-Hoe. There’s other people out there more worthy of help. People who are actually capable of being grateful for it.
She’s quite messed up and it seems the strong independent woman act is just that, an act. BTS she is in fact a user, opportunist and is dependent upon the kindness of men. Hmph.
I just have to say that “Captain-Save-a-Hoe” isn’t an expression that sits right with me.
But as to your other questions, I would imagine that RZA didn’t quite know the extent of her mental instability.
I’m certain that he’s keenly aware of AB’s talent so perhaps he thought that as someone who’s been in the game for so long, he could be a positive influence and a mentor.
Which he probably could have been, if she wasn’t so damn self-destructive.
She’s her own worst enemy, always and for that reason I pity her.
I’m a die hard hip hop kid and Captain-Save-A-Hoe is a well embraced meme from way back (E-40) that actually has wisdom and relevance beyond the it’s surface coarseness. And that’s a hallmark of hip hop. I will continue to use it.
I’d be interested in hearing the “wisdom” behind the term, if you’d care to explain.
@ Kitten
“You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge.”
NWA
In a nutshell it means recognize the futility of trying to save someone from themselves. Typically, that doesn’t work out too well. You open yourself up to users, manipulators or end up creating a co-dependency that is no good for anyone. And also sometimes people have a savior complex and very self-consciously seek out people they think are broken because it feeds their egos to “fix” them. It’s a recipe for disaster.
In short, take off the cape, Captain. You’re not a superhero and you can’t save all these hoes. FYI, “hoe” isn’t necessarily gender specific. And personally, I’m no prude and I generally embrace the artistic use of profanity because it adds an exclamation point to the discourse, if you will. A lot of people are dismissive of rap for one because so much of it produced by black men and for another people are knee jerk pearl clutchers who think because there’s discussion of sex and violence and conspicuous consumption that there’s nothing meritorious or “deep” to be found, ever. Not so.
I guess I should also add as an aside that I’m not against helping people out at all. I think it’s very necessary. But sometimes you have to pick your battles. Unfortunately for whatever reason, some people are just toxic.
Thanks for taking the time to expound a bit.
Admittedly, I have a huge aversion to the words “ho/slut/whore/etc” (yet I too adore hip hop-go figure) and I guess I bristled a bit at the term particularly in that context because I too often see it aimed at black women.
From one hip-hop lover to another: I fully understand your need to defend what is a very meaningful style of music to both of us. I’ll remember to call on you in the future when things get heated around here, because hip hop is usually the first on the chopping block when the topic of “offensive music” comes up. This, despite the fact that every genre of music with vocals has had its own dalliances with “obscene”, “vulgar”, and profanity-laced lyrics.
Even though “offensive” language is not unusual in hip hop, I always make it a point to not repeat them. For me, it’s one thing to listen, but another to repeat them, thus perpetuating. Perhaps there’s a level of hypocrisy on my part, but meh..just how I feel.
Anyway, cheers and thanks for the reply.
I think we know what Captain-Save-A-Hoe actually means. But Kitten was asking why she should be comfortable with “Hoe” aside from the fact that it’s an old expression.
@ Radley
J just because disrespect and misogyny has been captured in an art form doesn’t automatically make it acceptable for use in all forums
For instance some Southern Universities and Institutions has their own songs which are a part of the culture which include phrases like “Hang a n***ger by his toe and some white frat boys were caught on tape expressing themselves in thier art and culture ” and quite a few people including Black men were not pleased.
Get it ?
BTW NWA ruined Hip hop …Yeh I said it
Why did he agree to help her with her reputation ?
Because she is talented? Maybe he is fan of her music? Because some persons can be different of their reputation ?
Your reputation (and your word) is really all you have in this world when it comes to establishing your character. Sooooo…I don’t get how one should be given the benefit of the doubt that their words and deeds don’t reflect the real them. What the heck does, then??
If you’re talented but nobody will work with you because you’re too unstable and too much of a jerk – that talent doesn’t do much in the way of money. Look how many people who have tried to help LiLo, and it’s bitten them in the butt.
There are just some people out there in life that need to learn these things the hard way. They’re convinced that someone can’t be all bad, or that the bad behavior can’t possibly happen to them.
He really lays it all out there. I doubt ke keeps helping her anymore.
I think she has mental issues, but is also hateful and a liar.
I’ve come to the conclusion that she’s Amanda Bynes-style profoundly mentally ill and in need of a serious medical intervention. I used to judge her as much as anyone, but it’s clear a big part of her behavior at this point is just illness. (I had the same evolution of thought with Bynes.) I mean, look at RZA here. He knows her and was trying to help her network and she just busts out with erratic and unpredictable and violent behavior that he didn’t recognize or understand.
Mental health isn’t an “excuse” in the ordinary sense of the word. We don’t normally judge someone with a broken leg for bleeding all over the floor and ruining the party (even though we could, it’s their blood, and maybe they did something to make it more likely that they got hurt), we hope someone calls an ambulance.
To add: It seems like she has the type of mental illness where it’s not really fair to say “it’s both her personality and the illness.” Even major depression and anxiety often tend to exacerbate to the point of caricature what’s already there (as a sufferer of the former, and close friend of people who suffer from the latter). But bipolar I, schizophrenia and other conditions really can make people say and do things that have no relation to their “real selves.”
I cringed at RZA’s use of “females.”
Ever since QQ et al explained why that word is cringy, I’ve been hyper-aware of it every time someone uses it. And lo and behold, every time it’s in a condescending context.
Other than that, I feel really bad for RZA.
I always cringe at “females,” but I’m giving him a pass on this one.
Mind sharing that explanation? I missed it.
@Lady D
I found this link which makes some good points but I’d also be ready interested to read the article they referred to up thread!
https://www.buzzfeed.com/tracyclayton/stop-calling-women-females
I think RZA is an amazing person and artist. I fear I’ll be deleted for saying this, but I will anyway: is it possible RZA and Banks were in a sexual relationship? Sorry, but I believe one always needs to examine motives for behavior. It’s certainly possible that he is a generous soul trying to help Banks out and they have a Platonic relationship, but she also is a young and extremely beautiful woman. When he bought her a plane ticket and put her up in a hotel, that thought did come to mind. Sometimes motives can get compromised and are not so pure. And if he did? I’d question his judgment for having a relationship with a mentally unstable and vulnerable woman, yes. But in no way would I fault him for her behavior, which is on her.
The thought also crossed my mind, then I remembered that Banks has stated in the past that she doesn’t date black guys. I don’t know if that’s true, but she’s made public statements alluding to such:
http://www.vibe.com/2015/03/azealia-banks-dating-black-men/
Azealia is crazy talented and her music is fresh and original, in an age where hip hop is starting to get very same’y and formulaic. I imagine RZA, being an old school rapper, probably saw a sparkle in Azealia he hasn’t seen in decades. When you listen to Azealia’s music, you do want her to succeed. I literally can’t think of a single mainstream rapper of today I consider more talented than her.
Sadly, her behavior totally clouds her talents. I used to defend her saying she’s just an ill person in desperate need of help. And it’s not like I don’t think that’s true anymore. But she clearly doesn’t want to help herself, so why would anyone bother helping her at all?
She needs some serious help, I wonder if she is bipolar. Considering she comes from an abusive background, there is no doubt Azealia has underline mental health issues she is refusing to address. Her behavior comes off like she had an episode similar to those who suffer bipolar disorder. I have family members who behave this way and we’re dignoise with bipolar disorder or szchopheria. There is no shame in seeking help but the more you deny. The more of an issue it becomes to have a healthy life and career.
His FB post comes across as pretty believable. I bet that’s exactly what happened.
And NOBODY TALKED ABOUT THE FACT HE ADMITTED IN A VIDEO TO TMZ THAT RUSSELL DID SPIT AT AZEALIA.
SOOOOOO….
Funny to see how this story is handled.
Nevermind the fact he is implying throught his post on Facebook that she was escorting that night (A. Already admitted on twitter that she had been an escort in the past and admitted on Insta that she thinks she was brought there for this.)
Add in Ridley Scott who we know IS racist was present at that party with other old welathy hollywood men. SOOOOOO….
But hey AB is just lying. Better to passed her as angry black woman as she has already made that image herself.
I think the truth is in the middle here.
I am confused,was Ridley Scott one of the other guests at that party? I know she mentioned sold old white guys.
Yes.
With other big old men from hollywood.
This was a *special* party.
If you don’t know what i mean look up H4rv3y W31nstein and how he deals with aspiring young women.
Wonder if RZA and AB had a little something going on? But that’s a random thought. My real thought is that he’s likely telling what may have set off the altercation between RC and AB. Both accounts can have elements of truth. AB has needed help for a while. She needs good men’s and good energy from professionals with the tools to help her. As awful as she is I hope she finds help and doesn’t continue to cause and experience suffering.
She claims she only dates white men.
I believe she was rude,insulting people,threatening to cut someone.I believe Russell physically removed her and spit on her.I believe she lied about being choked and being called the N word.
Lastly I believe she has mental issues.
Yep. I agree.
And in my previous post the sentence should read she needs good meds, not good men’s!
I detest when people brag about youth like it’s an accomplishment. Everyone has it until we don’t anymore. Everyone who doesn’t have it anymore has experienced it. It’s nothing special. It must be so sad for those who prize youth to find themselves without it one day never to have it again. What’s really special is old age. That’s an accomplishment.