Azealia Banks says 'show me love when I’m up, not when I’m down' after Internet talks about her mental health
Azealia Banks has responded to the recent fan support she has received after concerning Instagram posts she shared over the weekend. Initially, the 29-year-old rapper took to her Instagram Live Story where she told her followers that she is "done here" and that she was thinking of "ending her tenure here on earth soon" alluding to suicidal thoughts.
"Yea, I think I'm done here," she wrote. "This pandemic, extreme lack of social interaction, no intimacy, combined with constant public ridicule is making life harder than its worth. I think I will end my tenure here on earth soon."Banks went on to say that she's not seeking "attention" or asking for "sympathy/empathy" with these posts she's just "ready to go." "I will document my last times and release a film for you all to finally understand me, from my perspective," Banks wrote. "My soul is tired. I'm ready to go."
Banks assured fans that she would give them several projects that they have been waiting for before looking for voluntary euthanasia options because she "doesn't have any more defense."
Now, in a new video on her Instagram, Banks is asking fans not to "support me at the end," but support her when she is doing well. "No, but for real, don't express concern for me when I'm down, you know. When I'm down, like... that's because I'm down, like, I'm down. Support me when I'm up," she began her video. "Y'all wanna have all these conversations about Black women's mental health and all this other shit like. Support me when I'm up, b***h. Support me when I'm f**king feeling good, you know. Support me when I got a smile on my face. Don't just give me support when I'm crying and down in the dumps," she continued.
"After y'all done ridiculed me and made fun of me all f**king year and made me the laughing stock and all the other shit, don't support me when I'm down, b***h, 'cause that's kinda where y'all put me, you know. Like, support me when I'm up, b***h, support me when I'm putting new music out and when I'm exploring my creativity and when I'm doing all those things to free myself from whatever shit, whatever cage that I feel locked in," she said calling out her critics and trolls for the negative comments she had been receiving.
At the end of the video, Banks says, "Support me when I'm trying to get free, b***h. Don't support me at the end. Don't support me at the end. Don't support me at the f**king end."
It is unclear what exactly triggered her to have such thoughts, but her citing being ridiculed is something that has clearly affected her. Last week, she claimed that she was going to have a "Britney Spears moment" before shaving her head. Documenting the process on Instagram, it appeared she was taking this on for a new start and feel for herself, as she said she did it "just to feel fresh again."
Whatever the reasons may be, Banks should get professional help and receive care from only trustworthy friends and family. Receiving fan admiration may not be the safest escape from pain.