Azealia Banks statement
5 February 2025
WE HEAR YOU
Dear everyone,
This is a message to let you know that we hear you. Your reactions to the announcement of Azealia Banks as headliner for Milkshake Festival have not gone unnoticed. We have read all of your emails. We have read all of your DM’s. We have read all of your reactions and posts. We will take some time to reflect on what happened the past 24 hours and we will update you as soon as possible.
Over the last thirteen years, our mission has always been to unite people. We try to stimulate looking past our differences and to create a place that celebrates the uniqueness of every individual. Anybody who has love in their hearts is welcome at Milkshake. We are, and always will be, for all who love.
Nevertheless, we strive to be a place where everyone, and especially the most vulnerable and historically marginalized among us, feel free to express themselves.
The immense amount of reactions to our announcement shows us that there is a clear divide among our followers. On the one hand, we have fans that have been moved by Azealia’s music and would love to see her perform. On the other hand, we have people who feel unsafe because of her comments on social media.
We take responsibility for not fully considering the potential impact of this booking.
Please know that all of our visitors are equally important to us. We simply would not exist if it wasn’t for you. 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. We try to create a platform for artists who haven’t always had equal access to popular spaces. We strive to pay homage to the roots of club culture, a community that has always been at the forefront in fighting for equality.
We have reached out to the management of Azealia Banks to get a clear statement. Please allow us some time to manage this situation.
We hope we have your trust in making the best decision for the entire Milkshake community.
Love,
Team Milkshake.