Azealia Banks says Brisbane ‘racist’, city show cancelled at last minute

American rapper Azealia Banks has blasted Brisbane as racist, saying she wasn’t taking the risk of performing in front of ‘an audience of white people’ with her River City show cancelled at the last minute.

Critically acclaimed rapper Azealia Banks has labelled Brisbane racist amid a turbulent Australian tour.

The 31-year-old’s Brisbane gig was cancelled hours before showtime on Tuesday after she said she felt in physical danger and for fans to consider this her farewell tour.

Banks said her stop here nine years ago produced one of the most racist and demoralising experiences of her life.

“Last time I was in Brisbane and y’all threw shit on the stage and damn near hit me in the face with a bottle.”

“I’m not taking the f---ing risk, I'm a beautiful black woman, I’m not about to get in front of an audience of white people for them to be throwing sh-*t at me,” Banks said on Instagram.

Banks then changed her mind, saying she would perform but only under heavy security measures, with any potential projectile to be held by the venue.

“And if my money is not ready for me to collect before I step on stage. I’m leaving.”

Azealia Banks. Picture Michael Buckner/Getty Images for LOGO

Video from a 2013 performance in Melbourne shows a can of beer narrowly missing the rappers face before she leaves the stage 90 seconds into her set.

It remained unclear if a similar projectile was thrown at a Queensland show, but a statement posted after the near miss in Melbourne said Banks went on to perform her full set in Brisbane the next day without incident.

This week Banks went on to say her safety concerns had been disregarded.

“This place makes me utterly miserable … it’s too physically taxing for $0.61 on the USD to waste my time with this stressful bullsh-t,” she added.

The rapper proceeded to post screenshots of the Department of Home Affairs website detailing workers’ rights, visa protection and signs of worker exploitation.

Fans were left confused as the event was cancelled and reinstated multiple times over the course of the day before, it was finally officially cancelled and refunds offered.

Ahead of the official release of her single New Bottega, listed as one of the best songs of 2022, Banks’s visit is not the first time a performer has labelled Brisbane racist after rapper Tyler, The Creator tweeted the same sentiment in 2011.

“I‘m uncomfortable and want to go home. I get this weird vibe,” he continued.

Azealia Banks and the promoter of her Australian tour did not respond to requests for comment.