Azealia Banks Files Legal Action Against Matty Healy of The 1975 Over X Posts | Entertainment & Arts News
The US rapper Azealia Banks has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Matty Healy, the frontman of The 1975, following a threatening exchange that took place on X last week.
Banks posted a screenshot of the letter on X on Sunday, indicating that it had been sent to Healy by her attorney, but the post was taken down on Monday due to violations of the platform’s rules as noted in a message from X.
In the letter, which was viewed by Sky News’ US affiliate NBC News before it was removed, Banks’s lawyer accuses Healy of making defamatory remarks and issuing threats of violence against her. The letter demands that Healy refrain from making any “further threats and defamatory statements” toward Banks.
It also requests a public apology from Healy and a compensation payment of $1 million (£784,000) for damages.
Wallace Collins, representing Banks, confirmed that he drafted the letter on behalf of his client on Saturday.
Collins stated in an email to NBC News that Banks “unequivocally stands by the factual allegations and legal claims as outlined in the December 7, 2024 letter.”
The conflict between Healy and Banks originated on X last week when Healy criticized her for her disparaging remarks about pop star Charli XCX’s appearance.
Healy, whose account has since been deactivated, accused Banks of jealousy, stating, “the women you attack seem to be culturally relevant, attractive, divisive and NICE people. I think this makes you jealous cos you’re so talented but everything else about you is a failure.”
Healy further posted that he would “f*** you up” and “slap” anyone who insulted his fiancée, Gabbriette Bechtel.
Read more:
Jay-Z and Beyonce attend premiere after he was accused of raping girl, 13
Disney influencer dies at brand event
Banks retaliated by saying that Bechtel resembled “Frankenstein” and remarked that both she and Healy, who has publicly addressed his recovery from heroin addiction, “look like you share needles.”
In response, Healy referred to Banks as a “rat” and threatened to “slap” her in a now-deleted message.
Entertainment Weekly reported that Healy issued an apology before deactivating his account, saying, “Nah I can’t be saying I’m gonna hit a girl that’s insane I’m sorry.”
“You just can’t keep being so mean about my mates and my mrs it’s really hurtful gets me well defensive.”
This tweet was not captured by Sky News or NBC News.
Sky News has reached out to Healy’s representatives for a response.
