Azealia Banks has been removed as a headliner from the upcoming Milkshake Festival following protests from the trans community over her past controversial statements.

The controversy stems from Banks' history of controversial comments about transgender individuals. In 2021, she made derogatory remarks about trans women, describing them as "hot gay boys with beat faces and plastic surgery" and accused them of "using male aggression to force their ways into women's spaces."

In 2023, Banks sparked further controversy by suggesting that healthcare funds should prioritize elderly care over gender-affirming surgeries, which she dismissed as "cosmetic surgery."

Notably, Banks recently criticized J.K. Rowling's anti-trans stance on X/Twitter, stating that "trans women are not a threat to your femininity" and arguing that Rowling should better understand "how states of consciousness vary in a human being."

The Milkshake Festival organizers addressed the situation on Instagram, acknowledging their oversight: "We take responsibility for not fully considering the potential impact of this booking. When booking artists, we focus on the contribution their music has made to spaces that matter to us. But their public persona should not go completely unnoticed."

In their final update, the festival confirmed: "Azealia Banks will not be performing at Milkshake Festival 2025. It is clear to us that we made a mistake and that we have overlooked essential information. We sincerely apologize for this."

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