Azealia Banks starts crowdfunding campaign to sue Russell Crowe

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Azealia Banks has started a crowdfunding page to sue Russell Crowe over an alleged altercation dating back to 2016.

Over the weekend, the rapper posted a selection of messages to Instagram asking for donations from fans, writing: “That s**t was f**king embarrassing, that s**t make me lose so much time in my career.” Banks claims that lawyers have “evidence” that ”can make it happen quick and make it go away”.

While the social media posts have since been deleted, the GoFundMe page remains active, with $1,833 of the $100,000 goal raised as of writing.

Reports emerged that Banks had been removed from a party hosted by Crowe at his Beverly Hills hotel room in October 2016. The initial story, published by TMZ, claimed that Banks threatened Crowe and another guest, the actor eventually grabbing Banks with a “bear hug” and security removing her from the hotel.

However, soon after Crowe re-Tweeted the original story, Banks posted a statement to Facebook alleging that Crowe called her the N-word, choked her, and spat at her. Crowe has denied these allegations.

Writing on the GoFundMe page, Banks makes those claims again, adding: “If I were a white singer he wouldn’t have even thought about laying a finger on me.”

Banks alleges that the incident caused ”irreparable damage” to her acting career as well as “loads of emotional damage.” She adds the case is not about “a big pay day” but “about letting the world know that black women are victims to the same sort of disgusting violence men in Hollywood deal out to women.”

Should any money come from the case, Banks says it would be “donated to ocean clean up charities.”

Banks has been at the centre of multiple controversies this year, including arguing with rapper Stefflon Don after calling Cardi B a “caricature of a black woman” and claiming RuPaul plagiarised one of her songs.

Representatives for both Banks and Crowe have been contacted by The Independent.