US rapper Azealia Banks has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Matty Healy, the frontman of The 1975, after a heated exchange on X (formerly Twitter) last week.
The conflict escalated after Healy reportedly threatened to slap Banks during an online dispute. Banks shared a screenshot of the letter on her X account on Sunday before it was later removed and replaced with a note from X stating it violated the platform’s rules. The legal document marks the latest chapter in an increasingly bitter public feud between the two artists.
In the letter, seen by NBC News prior to its deletion, Banks’s lawyer accused Healy of making defamatory statements and issuing threats of violence against her. The letter demands that Healy refrain from making further defamatory remarks and threats, while also calling for a public apology.
Additionally, the letter includes a demand for $1 million (£784,000) in damages to compensate for the harm caused. Banks’s attorney, Wallace Collins, confirmed the authenticity of the letter, stating in an email to NBC News that it had been prepared and sent on December 7, 2024. “Banks unequivocally stands by the factual allegations and legal claims outlined in the letter,” Collins said.
The feud began when Healy criticized Banks on X for her negative comments about pop star Charli XCX’s appearance. Healy’s remarks accused Banks of targeting women who were “culturally relevant, attractive, divisive, and NICE people,” insinuating that her actions stemmed from jealousy.
“You’re so talented, but everything else about you is a failure,” Healy wrote in one of the posts, which has since been deleted. The argument quickly spiraled as Healy threatened to “f*** you up” and “slap” anyone who insulted his fiancée, Gabbriette Bechtel.
Banks did not hold back in her response, retaliating with scathing insults aimed at both Healy and Bechtel. She described Bechtel as resembling “Frankenstein” and made personal remarks about Healy’s history of heroin addiction, suggesting the couple “look like you share needles.”
The insults further inflamed the situation, leading Healy to retaliate by calling Banks a “rat” and reiterating his threat to slap her. The back-and-forth exchange left fans and observers on social media stunned by the level of vitriol.
Healy’s account on X was deactivated following the controversy, but not before he posted an apology. According to Entertainment Weekly, Healy acknowledged the inappropriateness of his behavior in the now-deleted post. “Nah, I can’t be saying I’m gonna hit a girl, that’s insane, I’m sorry,” he wrote.
However, he also defended his actions, stating, “You just can’t keep being so mean about my mates and my mrs—it’s really hurtful, gets me well defensive.” The apology did little to diffuse the tension as Banks’s legal response intensified the matter.
Banks has yet to comment further publicly on Healy’s apology or account deactivation. However, her cease-and-desist letter and demands for damages make it clear she views the issue as far from resolved. The legal battle may extend beyond the online feud, especially if Healy fails to meet the demands outlined in the letter.
Banks, known for her outspoken nature and history of high-profile conflicts, appears determined to take a stand against what she perceives as defamatory and threatening behavior.
The incident has sparked widespread debate on social media about celebrity conflicts and the boundaries of public discourse. While some fans have taken sides, others have criticized both artists for their roles in escalating the situation.
The fallout from the feud underscores the complexities of navigating fame and public scrutiny in the digital age, where heated words can quickly lead to legal repercussions and lasting reputational damage.
