Here’s Why Azealia Banks Sent Matty Healy A $1-Million Cease-And-Desist Demand
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Despite not being initially mentioned in Azealia’s comments, Matty — whose own history of problematic comments and behavior is also well-documented — responded by defending Charli and, after addressing Azealia’s history of insulting “culturally relevant, attractive, divisive and NICE people,” issuing an open threat to “use my mental illness to full affect and…dox and fuck you up” in regards to anyone online who would speak ill of his fiancée, the model Gabbriette.
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Never one to shy from a challenge, Azealia responded that Gabbriette “looks like Frankenstein” and that her and Matty “both look like you share needles,” referencing the 1975 singer’s past struggles with heroin addiction.
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Things got worse from there. Matty responded to Azealia by threatening to “fucking slap you so hard I’ll get a Guinness world record for the highest a rat some bitch calls a wig has ever flown.” He later apologized for his tweets, went on Reddit to apologize for the past few years in general, and eventually left social media entirely.
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Naturally, Azealia was not done. She threatened to sue Matty following his threats, and yesterday she took things one step further by issuing a cease-and-desist letter to Matty — with a hefty financial demand attached.
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Azealia initially shared the letter directly to Twitter, but it’s since been removed due to violating the site’s rules — most likely because the letter seemingly shared Matty’s personal information.
The letter, which the Hollywood Reporter confirmed was sent directly to Matty this weekend, was issued by Wallace J. Collins III, a member of Azealia’s legal team. “Your attacks against my client’s professional reputation, your overt racial epithets and your most recent threats of physical violence against my client have been well-documented since you published them worldwide online,” it states.
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The letter refers to Matty’s actions as “wrongful, bad faith and malicious” and claims that they “seriously damaged and will continue to damage” Azealia. Wallace also notes that Azealia has asked him to draw up a formal legal summons and complaint against Matty, but “I have usually found it beneficial for all parties to try to resolve such matters amicably without the need for court intervention.”
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The cease-and-desist also calls for Matty to issue a public apology to Azealia, as well as $1 million in compensation to her for “full settlement of this matter.”
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