US rapper Azealia Banks has sparked controversy by claiming that Birmingham’s Bull Ring fish market made her sick, likening it to a “Wuhan wet market,” the site widely associated with the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Banks urged city officials to take action, accusing the market of being unhygienic. The 33-year-old artist expressed her belief that her visit to the market caused her to fall ill, leading to two days of fever and recovery.
She posted: “The city officials in Birmingham, UK, need to do something about the fish market at the Bull Ring. It’s giving off serious Wuhan wet market vibes, and just being there made me sick. I’ve spent the last two days drinking tea and sweating it out.”
Banks, a New York native known for her public feuds with figures like Elon Musk and the band The Stone Roses, surprised many by directing her criticism at Birmingham’s local authorities over the market’s condition.
In a follow-up post, Banks clarified that she ended up at the market by accident while searching for a beauty supply shop. She explained: “I was looking for a beauty supply shop I saw on Yelp, and it turned out to be a small stand inside an outdoor building that was reeking from the fish market. I wasn’t there to buy raw fish.”
The Bull Ring fish market, which has been operating since the 1800s, sells a variety of fresh fish, as well as fruit and vegetables. However, recent reports suggest the market may face demolition as the site’s owners plan to replace it with student accommodation and apartments. If approved, stall owners would be compensated and relocated.
