Protesters Stage Die-In At Iggy Azalea’s Concert At USC; Azalea Responds

December 5, 2014  |  

Judy Eddy/WENN.com

Last night, quite a few protests took place around the country well into the early morning to protest the grand jury’s decision not to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo for fatally choking Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York in July. Such protests followed the ones that took place last week for Mike Brown, which shut down highways, bridges, shopping malls and more. Last night, a group of protesters actually took to the streets to make their voices heard at an Iggy Azalea concert. They say that the protest was not really about her though, but about the non-indictment of Officer Daniel Pantaleo.

According to KTLA, protesters planned to do a massive die-in at Bovard Auditorium on USC’s campus on Thursday night, where the concert was taking place. About 200 people reportedly signed up to take part. The Facebook invitation reads like this:

“Are you frustrated with the biased and inaccurate portrayal of people of color in the media? Are you tired of feeling like the plight of our people is not taken seriously? Are you angry that police are constantly getting away with murder and profiting off the loss of black lives?

There may be cameras on them but that has not stopped them from innocently walking away from their crimes. The cameras should be on US so WE can have our voices heard. Iggy Azalea will performing in Bovard at 8pm. Like her or not, she has garnered attention and fame for appropriating Black culture. This is our opportunity to take her platform and help bring attention to much more important issues.”

In the end, though 193 said they went, KTLA claimed video showed that only a few dozen people showed up. In the end though, those who organized the protest at the concert were happy with the message they were able to send to the many students and fans who showed up for Azalea’s show:

“THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED AND/OR PARTICIPATED IN THIS EVENT!! Because of you, we got a strong message to a lot of people and I believe it will spark positive change!! You are so appreciated.”

Azealea has been accused of appropriating black culture for some time now, but things got ugly this week after the Eric Garner decision. Rapper Azealia Banks heavily criticized her on Twitter, as well as other artists who appropriate black culture but don’t use their platform to say something when injustices happen to black people (Banks herself was livid about the grand jury’s decision). Banks had a lot to say, but some of her main statements included:

“it’s funny to see people Like Igloo Australia silent when these things happen… Black Culture is cool, but black issues sure aren’t huh?”

“If you’re down to ride with us b***h you gotta RIDE ALL THE WAY.” She would go on to say, “Don’t just be down to ride Black D**k…If you with us you WITH US.”

“Igloo Australia” ended up trending on Twitter, while Iggy Azalea responded by saying, “we’ve all read the script 49584068408540 billion times now, find a new game plan.” But she would later go on to encourage those criticizing her, as well as fans, to protest. She also shared a link to some “ACTUAL PRODUCTIVE WAYS YOU CAN HELP.” As she put it, “Theres more to sparking a change than trolling on social media. World issues shouldn’t be used as a poor excuse to promote fan battles.”

But when “change” came to her concert in the hopes of shutting it down, Banks felt some type of way about it. One fan pointed out one protester who said “I didn’t even plan this sh*t. I didn’t know she existed until today. I just want to shut sh*t down…#BringTheProtestToThePeople.” When Iggy’s fan criticized that person, she jumped in:

 

So what do you think of the choice of protesters to demonstrate at Azalea’s show? And what are your thoughts on the new wave of appropriation criticism she’s been getting lately?

 

Trending on MadameNoire

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  • MocaPretty

    Stop supporting, following, endorsing, or giving into anything Iggy or any of her white counterparts does while they are taking from black culture. It goes w/o saying that there are white ppl who indeed care about the injustices in the world then there are those like this corny white foreign bish who is trying to come up and could give zero fux about the struggles of the black ppl who established the culture she fraudulently portrays.

  • Bina

    I wish I had went!!!! Rigor mortis all in her space

  • *Star*Bryte*

    she’s a joke, her rise to popularity is an even bigger joke, “we” need to stop giving this woman attention period (blogs that cater to blacks such as this one and others); she needs to take her “white chicks” (as referred to by Snoop) lookin’ arse somewhere and sit down!

  • MzALI

    “Evil in the world does not only exist in action, it thrives and relishes silence as well.” – VVV
    ^EXACTLY! Case in point, the people of Nazi Germany. Most of them did not agree with what Hitler was doing, but did they speak out? No, they did not. They stayed quiet and by not speaking out, their silence made them guilty of the atrocities as well. Similiar sentiments can be said to all those appropriating black culture but when black culture gets too real, they stay silent.

  • How Ukranians have been protesting all this year:

    http://www.youtube.Com/watch?v=SWNxtHYUUxs
    http://www.youtube.Com/watch?v=C7suncp2CTo

    How Greece protested last month about a police shooting in 2008:

    http://www.youtube.Com/watch?v=dono3XhrDe4
    http://www.youtube.Com/watch?v=iKkk6J2rV00

    How Hong Kong is protesting:
    http://www.youtube.Com/watch?v=Lz4vSis4e08

    How Egypt is protesting (WARNING EXTREMELY GRAPHIC):
    http://www.youtube.Com/watch?v=Peuq8HQnlV4

  • 97 Neon

    Anyone remember when hip-hop made music you could dance to?

    Come back Egyptian Lover, hip hop needs you.

  • ☥Neithhotep☥

    Iggy Azalea looks like some scientist took fat from Nicki Minaj’s gluteus, mixed it with a strand of Miley Cyrus’ hair in a petri dish, and said, “Here- go make us money”.

    And Nicki Minaj is already deeply seeded in the white culture. I think that’s why I’m so annoyed by Lil’ Wayne/Drake/Nicki. Can we please get some BLACK back in RAP? I can’t even listen to the radio nomore. Like Biggie said- S‘♫ìt done changed. I guess they thought it might be easier to package her if she were actually just white.

    SMH at the Iggy supporters. Ya’ll need to know what’s real. This thing is not.

  • Georgia Devinshire

    but but but….I thought white women loved black men?

  • kookla

    I understand Banks’ point, but who gives a flying fig what Iggy thinks?

  • Indigo

    #IglooAustralia will never get old.

  • KT

    I know one thing, tired of some folks on social media repeatedly stating that black folks shouldn’t be angry at cops since black people kill each other at high rates. Well I will say the same thing after another mass shooting.

    • jean

      I know !! one of my best friends said this after the Ferguson thing. I can’t even call it logic because it makes no sense. She then went into a sermon about how we blame all our ills on whites and we have no one to blame but ourselves. I mean, if you are a black person and you are saying the exact same thing as the staunchest white racist ,wouldn’t you consider this as a clue ? I don’t even know how reason with someone who says something that stupid. but I will be saying that about the school shootings and such at work tomorrow!

  • tasha

    I don’t care how old I live to be, I will always remember Igloo Austrailia. XD

  • TruthSpeaks

    Some of these Black rappers worked with Iggy and I mean, literally jumped on the bandwagon when she become famous. They too, need to chill their butt out because noticed how quiet they are?? I have no problems with white people who embraced our cultures/music a lot of them throw genuinely love/supports. It’s the one who flee the second something happened like our Black men being killed as we seen in the news.
    Let me break down a history fact about one famous White American woman, Mae West. She had no problem with Black people, and in fact was ahead of her time, came from Brooklyn and had more guts to stand up for Black people than most of these White celebs who used our culture/music to become famous. One day, Mae West had a Black friend visiting her and the door man/manager of building refused to let them come in. Mae West turn right around and bought the whole building!! From there any Black person could visit or live there. Yes, she was upstanding/no nonsense woman and in my opinion the FIRST White American woman to get the “Ghetto Pass”. If Mae West was born 90 decades later, she would still be famous and certainly would used or allowed her concerts to promotes awareness what’s going on in the Black Community as well as with the Brown/Garner’s stories/our Black men. Iggy and the lots like her can learn a lot of lessons from Mae West. One of Mae’s ex-lover, was a famous boxer, who became her life long good friend/confidante for over 50 years. She gave him a job outside of boxing as her body guard/driver and he never have one bad words to say about her. He died a few years ago, and I wish he was alive because that man would have a lot to say about some of these White Celebs who rapped/whatever and don’t actually given thanks. It’s like Lady Gaga, she imitated Grace Jones a lot but one do not hear her talked about Grace’s strong influences on her clothes style/poses.

  • Half-Blood Princess

    NO. If it wasn’t for social media none of this would have been brought to light. All of these protest came to light because of social media. What are you doing to change anything? If you’re not doing anything to make a change (which social media has done) then you’re no better than the people you’re “telling off”. It doesn’t take the White House it takes people to stop being racist murders, and besides what can the White House do make police wear body cameras? Hello we tried that and Eric Garner is dead and the cop who killed him escaped an indictment. He’s not even going have to go to trail. White people at least used to hold up the illusion that they cared enough to go to trial, but now they don’t even have to do that. They can kill us and become millionaires. What needs to happen is for white people to accept and acknowledge their privilege and stop acting like racism is a thing of the past because he have a black president . Black people have been marching and protesting for years so STFU with this what black people need to do, We certainly didn’t get where we are today by waiting for white people to see the error of their ways and grant us the humanity the stripped us of when they shipped us over here like cattle. White people need to stop blaming black people for their racism. Change will start when we can have an honest discussion about racism, but that will never happen because every time you do white people get their feelings hurt and cry “That’s racism.” or “If you talk about race that makes you racist.” or “Not everything is about race.” or “Why do you have to keep tearing up your own neighborhoods. Or “What about black on black crime.” or “If the situation was reversed on would say anything.” Or “Affirmative action” or “Blacks people sold other blacks into slavery” or “If you don’t like this country go back to Africa!” Anything to derail the conversation away for their part in racism. Kind of like your post. No I mean exactly like your post.

  • donny j

    All these ugly pinks that steal our culture, why are they only coming at her? I say attack all of them!!!

  • CC

    I can understand it..you can take my money but you can’t stand by me when something is wrong!!!

  • starapple

    Had Iggy made a public comment about the grand jury’s decision folk would still find something about which to complain. The person who should be ashamed of herself is Azealia Banks for using this very serious incident and Eric Garner’s name as a pretext to reignite her unnecessary and silly “beef” with Iggy and in order to gain attention. Besides complaining on Twitter, what meaningful steps has Banks taken to ensure that similar incidents don’t occur again? What has she done? I am not concerned about what Iggy does, we should worry about what we are going to do. Look in the mirror first, before pointing fingers.

  • VVV

    100% with Azaelia Banks. It means nothing though because while I am very careful about where I spend my money and who gets it, some people aren’t that cautious, and some of these artists will still be supported by the black community. I don’t support Iggy, Justin B, Miley nobody who is disrespectful to my people should get a dime of my money. My money may not mean anything to them because they have millions,but I am just happy to note that my 2 cents is not going to their pockets. Don’t use my culture, my story, my struggles to make millions and then pretend dwell in silence during a slaughter. Evil in the world does not only exist in action, it thrives and relishes silence as well.

  • fromanotherplanet

    Oh lawd here we go again. Look! I’m not a fan of this Igloo chick. Don’t care for her, never have, never will but you guys keep hyping this chick up when you keep coming for her everyday, every minute and every second. Now she’s going to walk around thinking black folks are so bothered by her success. These people should be staging protests in front of their congress representatives and their mayors and their elected officials. Who gives a flying fxck about Iggy? Her concert is full of 12 year old white girls and gay black men, like what goals are you trying to accomplish? Why weren’t y’all going this hard on Eminem and Justin Timberlake?????? We all know why but I’ll keep it cute and put it on mute. I’m sick of this chick making the news and it’s always about black people going IN on her. Why do we care about this chick???? WHY????? Lawd!! Goodbye!

  • sha wilson

    ITS ALL FUNA AND GAMES UNTIL THE COPS COME-JUST ANOTHER WHITE GIRL TRYING TO HARD TO BE BLACK-BUT WILL NEVER GO THRU THE THINGS THAT WE GO THRU!

  • On_Point

    Yt culture vulture thot gets what she deserves.

  • Kendon Smith

    You’re in the spotlight, you gotta be able to take the heat. I don’t even mess with mainstream hip hop for all it’s insipidity. My take is that if it shakes an IA fan to consciousness, then it’s all good.

  • AB

    I was wondering what was wrong with Mademenoire. They almost went a whole two weeks without mentioning anything about this rapper who can’t sell records. The rest of you readers didn’t know that they have an editorial mandate to mention as many useless white women that none of you probably own her records as much as possible on this Blog.

  • Ignorance is Bliss

    What does she do again? She must be relevant to teenagers.
    Who care what she thinks anyway.
    Madonna was the same way “blackish” and using images and ideas of black culture to be cool (see Like a Prayer Video)
    Maybe she will last as long as Madonna.
    When she does, then get back to me.
    Until then, she is just another pop star, making money, and not important to the real world.

  • ijs

    umm and how is this fighting for change? They just starting unnecessary drama. The people that need to hear the protest are not at an iggy concert. If you want to protest for real change it starts at the white house or at least the police station because it was an officer that killed the man not iggy

    • “the people that need to hear the protest are not at an iggy concert” – truth.

      however, the message rejecting her sends will vibrate. that – sparks – change.
      because brown people need to feel empowered FIRST, before we can seek it.

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  • Usually I don’t comment but…

    Isn’t this the same as everyone wants to be hard until it’s time to to hard ish? I mean most of the rappers in music today, are following a script- but there is no outrage.
    What kind of statement would you have Iggy say? What would satisfy you? A retweet? A repost? I am so sick and tired of people claiming celebrities aren’t “special” but yet we expect them to speak out on social issues. But when they do and they don’t share the same sentiments- we get mad. I.e. Stacey Dash, Pharell, Charles Barkely, etc…
    Things like this distract from the real enemy and the real fight.
    Iggy doesn’t have any power in our communities- only we do.
    I could give a damn about what she thinks (especially seeing as I do not purchase any of her music), I’m more concerned about what Thom Tillis thinks or Pat McCory says -my state officials. 1.

    • guest

      it’s not about what she thinks maybe for you but you need to understand that these people have many followers and people that look up to them and they can spark a change by just making a statement as they are on a larger platform. Charles Barkley is one brainwashed self hating idiot but at least he did speak out, it may have been fueling racism against his own which is why whites jumped on it as well as other self hating blacks but he did utilize his platform.

  • mmmdot

    Exactly. Everybody wants to be “black”…until the police come. Where were the all the appropriating white rappers when they mowed Mike Brown down? Nowhere to be found. Not only do white people who TRULY want to be down need to give credit where credit is due and stop whitewashing hip hop culture into a “everybody” thing, they SHOULD at least be talking about the LEGALLY SANCTIONED lethal & life threatening white police/vigilante violence that is being inflicted on the young black people that they so CLEARLY bite off of every single fxcking day. And Igloo Alligator NEEDS to stop fxcking doing that crazy azz “blaccent”. Tired of her.

    P.S. For any morons that want to try it: Please stop acting like you don’t know that there IS a Black American community in America. Well, that Black American community has a Black American CULTURE. Duh! Let’s deal with reality people: there IS a Black American culture, there ARE Black American customs, and there ARE Black American colloquialisms
    and the white controlled record industry [along with Igloo Down Under’s money-hungry, PHONY, white Australian azz] IS engaging in CULTURAL APPROPRIATION. Period. Google “cultural appropriation” and “the whitewashing of mainstream rap music” and then shut the fxck up. Thank you.

    • guest

      you said that!

      • mmmdot

        Thank you!

    • Quest

      Macklemore was the only white rapper who protested.

  • KEEKZ

    I can’t lie. I’m somewhat tired of the “let’s be easy on the white girl because she’s white and innocent and has nothing to do with this” script. But anyway, I ain’t mad at it. Protest at a concert, protest anywhere that sparks change.

  • Shea2shy

    Now she’s nominated for best rap album at the Grammy’s … Its all fun appropriating blk culture until ish gets real.. So you see that’s not her problem…

    Stop supporting this loser Igloo Australia

    Im not watching the grammy’s this year…

    • StraightShooter

      I hope she wins, then maybe that will be a wakeup call to Black artists in the industry. They just stand by while white people take over.

      • tasha

        …. Or she could just lose and a Black artist could win…..?

        • StraightShooter

          It could definitely happen that way, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she did win.

        • #tashaforthewin

  • Sunny

    I’m not a fan of Twitter beef (or any beef if you’re older than 18) or Azealia or Iggy, but I did enjoy Azealia’s tweets, especially the one directed to T.I. Nothing but the truth.

  • reignbeau

    White privilege at its finest. People need to wake up. The guy playing “pacify the white girl” is the type police are using for target practice (judging by his avatar). I can’t…

    • mmmdot

      “The guy playing “pacify the white girl” is the type police are using for target practice (judging by his avatar).” You don’t have to be white be used as a tool to uphold white supremacy or be complicit in upholding the racist system.

      • MocaPretty

        He is a troll that somehow always “supports” Iggy. He may be on her payroll? U know the Uncle Tom all have a price and it doesnt even have to be a high one

        • mmmdot

          I wouldn’t be shocked. SMH.