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Azealia Banks Responds to Criticism Over ‘Whiteface’ Photo

Rapper dismisses controversy, likens herself to Snoop Dogg.

Azealia Banks knows how to get people talking, even if the conversation isn’t always positive.

In her latest episode of social media controversy, the Harlem rapper dismissed criticism brought on by a photo she posted on Instagram yesterday (Jan. 2).

The image, which is captioned “Whiteface,” features Banks’s face covered in white makeup, causing many commenters to question her motive. She later explained on Twitter that the look had nothing to do with race. It was actually from a video shoot for the song "Ice Princess" off her Broke With Expensive Taste debut. “This was not white face, this is my Ice Princess makeup. Calm tf down. LOL.”

In an accompanying tweet, Banks likened her look to Snoop Dogg playing a fictitious white character that he made up named Todd. “When Snoop Dogg did whiteface YALL all thought that s**t was hilarious and funny right? #MISOGYNOIR at its finest!!” she wrote, along with tweeting a link to the term “misogynoir.”

Even with all the tweets, and the additional photos proving that the white makeup was just the beginning stages of becoming an “Ice Princess,” her justification didn’t really stop the controversy. Especially after the 23-year-old called white people “crackers” in another tweeting round, eliciting more comments from those puzzled, upset, or offended by her terminology.

In response Banks noted, “I use the word crAcker just as much as I use the word n***er... Don't get mad now.” 

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(Photo: Azealia Banks via Instagram)

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