Have you been angry beyond belief this week about people not believing survivors of sexual assault? I hate to say that it’s going to get worse before it gets better.
Rapper Azealia Banks went on a Twitter tirade against Kesha, who famously revealed that music producer Dr. Luke sexually assaulted her. Banks claims that Kesha lied about the assault to get out of a contract, citing her as “a white woman using her inherent ‘victimhood’ to con her way through life.”
Another instance of a white woman using her inherent “victimhood” to con her way through life. I don’t give a fuck about Kesha. When has she EVER stood up for any black woman who was going through someshit??????????
— CHEAPYXO (@SHOPCHEAPYXO) September 30, 2018
Banks, who has worked with Dr. Luke before, continued to defend Dr. Luke, saying that she “would NEVER collab with a rapist.” She also called Kesha’s supporters hypocritical, saying that they would still listen to Dr. Luke’s music despite being outspoken against his actions.
Kesha is on video under oath admitting dr Luke never raped her... but for your own stupid sakes you continue to care about women’s rights with some vapid ass attempt to “cancel” dr Luke while you all shake your bussies to his music in the gay bar. FOH
— CHEAPYXO (@SHOPCHEAPYXO) September 30, 2018
I would NEVER collab with a rapist. Dr Luke is not a rapist and I’m tired of being blamed of working with a rapist.
— CHEAPYXO (@SHOPCHEAPYXO) September 30, 2018
Despite her accusations, she goes on to raise some valid points about the way that the victim narratives of white women are prioritized over those of black women, citing the handling of her own assault a few months ago as an example. She also takes white feminism to task, acknowledging that the media often focuses on white, female victims over the “countless non-famous poor black trans women that get murdered every day (sic).”
When I was date raped a few months ago EVERYONE SAID IT WAS A PUBLICITY STUNT. Yes that’s why I choose to speak out. A white woman lies and you automatically believe her but for whatever reason masculinize black women to the point that we MUST be lying when we’re MOST VULNERABLE https://t.co/9f0nfMBSSH
— CHEAPYXO (@SHOPCHEAPYXO) September 30, 2018
You think some stupid ass social media support of a lying privileged white woman is enough to SAY that you care for women’s causes? I wish you all had this same energy for the COUNTLESS NON FAMOUS POOR BLACK TRANSWOMEN THAT GET MURDERED EVERYDAY
— CHEAPYXO (@SHOPCHEAPYXO) September 30, 2018
This isn’t the first time Azealia Banks has used Twitter to say something controversial. In 2013, she used homophobic slurs against gossip blogger Perez Hilton and "Harlem Shake" musician Baauer. And in 2015 she called the LGBTQ+ community “gay white KKKs.”
I understand Banks’ frustration at the incongruities between white and black women’s media portrayal, but I don’t see why that is a reason to throw a survivor under the bus, considering less than 10 percent of sexual assault reports are false, and only 63 percent are reported altogether, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Being an advocate for yourself doesn’t mean crushing others with valid perspectives.
Survivors, we believe you. Thank you for being brave enough to come forward.