A New York City judge has issued a bench warrant for rapper Azealia Banks' arrest after she failed to show up to a court hearing on Monday (06Mar17).
The 25-year-old rapper stands accused of spitting at and biting a female bouncer at Manhattan's Up&Down nightclub over a year ago (Dec15), and she was due to kick off the week with a court appearance to address the matter.
However, when she didn't turn up on Monday, Judge Kathryn Paek issued a bench warrant for her arrest, according to Page Six.
Banks' attorney reportedly told the judge his client was out of the country and read a note from the rapper, in which she suggested she could be "back tomorrow if the court needs it".
Unimpressed, the Manhattan Criminal Court justice issued the bench warrant.
Azealia has a new free court-appointed lawyer speaking on her behalf after her private attorney requested to be relinquished from the case.
Banks has found herself in hot water with the magistrate before - she was supposed to appear in court in September (16), but was a no-show after reportedly missing her flight to New York City from Los Angeles. The rap star made a rescheduled Manhattan court date in November (16), when the judge overseeing the case warned her she would serve jail time if she failed to appear at the next hearing.
Azealia has been charged with misdemeanor assault, attempted assault and disorderly conduct for her alleged attack on the bouncer. Reports suggested the 212 rapper flew into a rage when staff at the club failed to recognize her.
Meanwhile, Banks' erratic behavior has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons for months - she engaged in a social media feud with Bahamian singer Rihanna over controversial U.S. President Donald Trump's so-called Muslim-ban at the end of January (17) and her lawsuit against Russell Crowe, in which she accused the Australian actor of spitting at her and calling her derogatory names at a Beverly Hills party in October (16), was thrown out by Los Angeles District Attorney's Office just before Christmas (16).