Azealia Banks demands $1M in cease & desist against Matty Healy over "threats of violence"

Azealia Banks has taken legal action against Matty Healy of The 1975, issuing a cease & desist letter and demanding $1 million in damages.

The move follows a heated online feud, during which Banks alleges Healy used "overt racial epithets" and issued threats that have caused emotional distress and harmed her professional reputation.

The altercation began on December 4, when Banks criticized Charli XCX’s appearance in a 2014 music video. Healy, a close friend and collaborator of Charli, responded with a string of tweets calling Banks “jealous” and dismissing her career outside of music. The exchange escalated when Healy allegedly threatened physical violence, stating, “I’m going to slap you so hard I’ll get a Guinness World Record for the highest a rat some bitch calls a wig has ever flown.”

Banks’ attorney, Wallace Collins, sent the letter on December 7, demanding an immediate public apology and financial compensation to avoid court proceedings. The letter asserts that Healy’s comments constitute defamation, threats of violence, and emotional harm.

Healy addressed the situation on Reddit on December 5, acknowledging his behavior as impulsive and destructive. “I really let myself down,” he wrote, expressing regret over contributing to what he called “violent cultural discourse.”

Despite the apology, Banks has doubled down on her stance, reiterating her criticism of Charli XCX and confirming that legal action against Healy is underway.