Matty Healy bows out of social media feud with Azealia Banks: "I’ll stick to music"

The 1975’s Matty Healy steps back from social media after a feud with Azealia Banks, saying, “I’ll stick to music.”

Matty Healy, lead singer of The 1975, has declared his retreat from social media following a contentious exchange with rapper Azealia Banks. The clash began when Banks made disparaging remarks about Charli XCX, who is engaged to Healy's bandmate George Daniel, sparking a heated back-and-forth.

In a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter), Healy wrote, “Guys I don’t have the right kind of intelligence/emotional maturity etc for social media… I’m actually just gonna stick to music cos I’m good at that. Having manic episodes on Twitter at 35 is kinda pathetic.”

Guys I don’t have the right kind of intelligence / emotional maturity etc for social media I literally just end up saying stuff that immediately regret etc. I’m actually just gonna stick to music cos I’m good at that. Having manic episodes on twitter at 35 is kinda pathetic ❤️

— Truman Black (@Gooodmorninguys) December 4, 2024

The feud ignited after Banks commented negatively on Charli XCX’s appearance. Healy defended his friend, accusing Banks of jealousy and describing her attacks as targeting "culturally relevant, attractive, divisive and NICE people." This led to a sequence of escalating responses, including Healy threatening to “slap” Banks, only to retract his words later, acknowledging his misstep and apologizing.

Banks responded aggressively, threatening to sue Healy and revisiting past controversies involving the singer, including his racist remarks about Ice Spice in 2023 and his onstage kiss with a bandmate in Malaysia, which resulted in a $4 million fine and a canceled festival. Banks criticized Healy’s behavior and associations, accusing him of perpetuating harmful rhetoric.

The feud sheds light on Healy’s controversial history, which includes accusations of racism and sexism, and public incidents that have divided fans and critics alike. Despite the turmoil, Healy appears to be stepping away from further online conflicts, focusing instead on his music career.

Banks, known for her outspoken persona, has also moved on, concluding her comments by condemning Healy’s past actions and reinforcing her strong opinions on his behavior.

As Healy steps back from the online fray, it remains to be seen how this clash will affect public perceptions of both artists and their respective careers.