Azealia Banks and, inset, RuPaul’s American album (Photo: Instagram)
Azealia Banks has followed her copyright claim against RuPaul by attacking Drag Race and its fans.
The rapper launched a series of tweets yesterday eviscerating the show’s attitudes to drag, accusing its host of promoting transphobia and cultural appropriation.
On Saturday, Banks claimed responsibility via Twitter for the removal from Spotify of RuPaul’s 2016 album American, citing the drag queen’s track Call Me Mother as a rip-off of The Big Big Beat from her 2016 mix-tape Slay-Z.
Lol I got rupauls ripoff of the big big beat .. “call me mother” removed. You will not step on my little black girl toes bitch. You will take your razor bumps and pumps to the nearest laser hair removal clinic and seethe. @RuPaul BYE UGLY! 💁🏽
— CHEAPY XO (@cheapyxo) June 2, 2018
According to Banks, talks with Apple Music concerning the removal of Call Me Mother from that site too are taking place. The song is still available on the streaming site at the time of writing.
Responding to claims from fans that RuPaul’s song credits her as a sample, she stated that her song was not properly licensed.
Banks, notorious for her online feuds with a host of stars, alleged that RuPaul has reached out to her since she began ‘filing claims’, however he has so far not responded to the accusations publicly.
Lol now that I’m filing claims RuPaul wants to reach out. But where was that energy when you were stealing my work and using me as inspiration for your campy ass television show? I’m disappointed in him first and foremost as a black person. He was supposed to have my back
— CHEAPY XO (@cheapyxo) June 2, 2018
She then took her beef further on Sunday, ridiculing Drag Race’s credentials and its role in the LGBTI community.
‘RuPaul and drag race are super duper unfashionable. It’s not what the cool kids are into. I would prefer to disassociate.
‘The cool gays don’t collab with ppl like RuPaul LMFAO. RuPaul’s brand of whitewashed drag queen pageantry is late. He’s for middle America. I’m for the fashion houses. He can’t sit with me.’
RuPaul and drag race are super duper unfashionable. It’s not what the cool kids are into. I would prefer to disassociate
— CHEAPY XO (@cheapyxo) June 3, 2018
The cool gays don’t collab with ppl like RuPaul LMFAO. RuPaul’s brand of whitewashed drag queen pagentry is late. He’s for middle America. I’m for the fashion houses. He can’t sit with me
— CHEAPY XO (@cheapyxo) June 3, 2018
Fans were quick to defend the show, with several championing it for pioneering drag’s recent mainstream popularity around the world, and for presenting cutting-edge couture on the runway. Banks nevertheless refused to be swayed.
‘Y’all keep trying to make drag culture important in my world and I keep telling you to keep it. honestly. I really don’t care to see men in wigs and dresses. Rather watch muscle masc gays dance to 212 or admire some beautiful trans girl’s beauty. Not here 4 the razor bumpsnpumps.
‘And that’s why ru won’t let the trans girls in because she knows they will SLAY the house down.’
Y’all keep trying to make drag culture important in my world and I keep telling you to keep it. honestly. I really don’t care to see men in wigs and dresses. Rather watch muscle masc gays dance to 212 or admire some beautiful trans girl’s beauty. Not here 4 the razor bumpsnpumps https://t.co/kgwNNCbf71
— CHEAPY XO (@cheapyxo) June 3, 2018
And that’s why ru won’t let the trans girls in because she knows they will SLAY the house down.
— CHEAPY XO (@cheapyxo) June 3, 2018
Banks went on to criticize the show for excluding cis and trans women from competing, claiming hypocrisy on the part of some gay men for their attitudes towards women.
‘If a woman wants to be a drag queen she can. I dunno what y’all boys keep talm about – women can’t be drag queens. If women can’t be drag queens then neither can you. You can’t be a caricature of a woman and then try to disinclude her. Ridiculous.
‘Y’all sit up her and beg for respect and inclusivity then turn around and tell others they can’t be included. You want your femininity to be respected but won’t allow an actual woman to participate in any gay male affairs. Makes no sense.’
if a woman wants to be a drag queen she can. I dunno what y’all boys keep talm bout – women can’t be drag queens. If women can’t be drag queens then neither can you. You can’t be a caricature of a woman and then try to disinclude her. Ridiculous https://t.co/itdII0QgkR
— CHEAPY XO (@cheapyxo) June 3, 2018
Y’all sit up here and beg for respect and inclusivity then turn around and tell others they can’t be included. You want your feminity to be respected but won’t allow an actual woman to participate in any gay male affairs. Makes no sense
— CHEAPY XO (@cheapyxo) June 3, 2018
After prodding from fans, she admitted her respect for several Drag Race alumni, citing Violet Chachki, Aja, Shea Coulee and ‘the bald headed one’ (we assume she means Sasha Velour) as her personal faves. Banks insisted she does not watch the show, because RuPaul ‘annoys’ her.
But I do enjoy violet chachki and the bald headed one. Violet is really dope. I like Aja and Shea too but I like them via social media, mutual friends and personal interaction seeing them separate from that show. I respect anyone who respects me
— CHEAPY XO (@cheapyxo) June 3, 2018
GSN has reached out to RuPaul for comment.
