Iggy Azalea cancels on Pittsburgh LGBT Pride parade after being haunted by offensive tweets

IGGY Azalea has cancelled her performance at a gay pride festival after being haunted by homophobic and racist tweets she once allegedly posted.

(FILES) - A file picture taken on March 29, 2015, rapper Iggy Azalea arrives on the red carpet for the iHeartRadio Music Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Hip-hop star Iggy Azalea, whose meteoric career rise has brought both a wide fan base and intense criticism, has said in June 2015, she canceled her tour because she needed a "mental break." AFP PHOTO/ VALERIE MACON

IGGY Azalea has cancelled her performance at a gay pride festival after being haunted by homophobic and racist tweets she once allegedly posted.

The Australian female rapper made the announcement on Twitter today, telling fans she was “disappointed” and she regretted the words she used years ago on social media.

Azalea was scheduled to headline the concert/fundraiser that will be held June 13 on Liberty Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh.

“I am a firm believer in equality. Unfortunately in the past as a young person, I used words I should not have. The last thing I want is for something so carelessly said to be interpreted as reflective of my character. I meant no harm and deeply regret ever uttering those words,” she said.

“As an adult I would never use them because I understand they play a detrimental role in the fight for issues that I do truly believe in. I am sorry to anyone I have offended or disappointed, and I wish all my fans and friends participating in Pride the best of luck.”

A message to Pittsburgh pic.twitter.com/Jm6ZyX0Xyc

— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) June 9, 2015

The controversial tweets, which were posted before she was famous, included one that said: “When guys whisper in each others ears I always think its kinda homo”.

Another was: “Wondered why my butt felt like it was about to grow legs, flip me off & walk away. then I remembered i played soccer yestrdy w 5 d**e b***hes”.

Azalea has also copped criticism from some members of the LGBT community for allegedly making racist comments with tweets including: “When the relay starts, I’m a runaway slave-master” and “Just saw 5 black men get arrested out the front of popeyes. #damn #stereotypes”.

Pittsburgh City Council President Bruce Kraus was among those who protested Azalea’s inclusion in the event, and several groups canceled scheduled appearances for the June 14 event.

“Our board voted last week to not march in the Pittsburgh Pride parade, due to the insensitive choice of Iggy Azalea as headliner,” said Vanessa Davis, of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

While she will no longer appear at the event, organisers of Pittsburgh Pride have defended the decision to book her.

“If we believed that Iggy Azalea was racist or homophobic, we certainly would not have selected her to headline Pittsburgh Pride,” the Delta Foundation said.

“We’re sorry that our headliner choice caused a division within our community, but we believe that change happens through conversation. We are meeting with key LGBT leaders to start a discussion that will make our collective community even stronger.”

“We are working on new entertainment, which we hope to announce shortly,” the foundation added.

Originally published as Iggy Azalea cancels on Pittsburgh LGBT Pride parade after being haunted by offensive tweets