Bette Midler attacks Twitter over Azealia Banks suspension
Singing superstar, Bette Midler, has hit out at Twitter after it suspended Azealia Banks from the site.
The 212 star was banned from the site for attacking former One Direction member, Zayn Malik. Azealia Banks finally issued a proper apology after she called him a “curry scented b*tch” and a “f*ggot”.
The singer has become known for her high-profile Twitter tirades – though she claims she cannot be homophobic because she identifies as bisexual.
Twitter deactivated Azealia Banks’ account for homophobia & racism?
So why is Donald Trump still here?
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) May 15, 2016
Bette, who is a long term advocate of LGBT rights, did not defend Azealia directly, but instead question why the social media giant suspended her and not Donald Trump.
She said: “Twitter deactivated Azealia Banks’ account for homophobia and racism? So why is Donald Trump here?”
During his campaign, the now presumed Republican nominee, has made a number of statements on race and sexuality, but has never had his account deactivated.
Azealia, who has not released a successful single in four years, wrote about former One Direction singer Zayn Malik last week, referring to him as a “faggot”, a “sand nigga”, a “d**k rider”, a “punjab” and a “paki”
She added: “your mother is a dirty refugee who won’t be granted asylum.”
Though she has made homophobic comments in the past with little blowback, there has been a strong backlash this week over the racist comments – with Banks humiliatingly axed by a UK music festival she was set to headline.
She was later suspended from Twitter over the incident.
Banks eventually took to Instagram over the weekend to issue an apology for the tirade.
She wrote: “Dear World, Now that the immediacy of the infamous incident has worn off, I’ve had some time to decompress & take a more rational assessment of things. I want to extend my sincerest apologies to the world. Employing racial/sexual slurs/stereotypes in attempts to make fun of or degrade another person or group is absolutely unacceptable and is not fair or fun for anyone. Allowing my anger to get the best of me, I’ve managed to insult millions of people without reason. And for that I give my deepest apologies.”
A photo posted by Azealia Banks (@azealiabanks) on
At time of publication, Banks remains banned from Twitter.
The rapper previously said she would not apologise for her homophobic tirades.
Banks insisted: “You can be a straight faggot… Faggots are men who want to bring women down, fuck with their heads, control them.”
On another occasion when she was challenged on her views, she claimed: “even if i am a homophobe… so wat? [sic] i still make more $ than u”.
