Harlem-born music creative Azealia Banks took to Instagram today where she announced she’s officially engaged to 34-year-old conceptual artist Ryder Ripps. Banks uploaded images to Instagram Stories showing Ripps proposing on bended knee. Rather than go with the usual diamond ring, Ripps proposed with a gold man’s ring stamped with a gold menorah, a candelabrum used as part of various Jewish rituals.
Ryder’s resume includes providing creative direction for Kanye West, Nike and VFiles among others, and he also designed the album art for Pop Smoke‘s (real name Bashar Jackson) posthumous album Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon, a job that arose after Virgil Abloh‘s concept for the project was abandoned because of fan push back.
In her Instagram post, the joyful 29-year-old Banks exclaimed, “I just got engaged kunts. I’m crying 😭…. I’m Jewish now. MAZEL TOV BITCHES! WE IN HERE…. YERRRRRRR.”
Not surprisingly, Banks’ declaration that a proposal transformed her into a Jew caused some pushback on her Instagram account with one commenter writing, “My religion is not your jewelry.”
Unfazed, Banks fired back, “and my struggle is not your entertainment. You love black music that says n*gger but mad my fiancé gave me the family heirloom?! Bitch I’m making shashuka, challah cornbread, black Israelite salad and matzoh fried chicken tomorrow. You can’t stop me. I’m a jewcy diva now.”
