Rapper Azealia Banks has issued a public apology on her Facebook page over her use of a homophobic slur. Banks was banned from Twitter last month after going on a tirade against  Zayn Malik in which she used both homophobic and racist slurs against the former One Direction singer.

Azealia BanksAzealia Banks has issued an apology on Facebook.

“Ok, i'm never saying the word F****T ever again.” Banks wrote. “The amount of people that get hurt when i use the word vs. the amount of people I've said it to are just not worth it. Honestly... This isn't a cop out, its just me realising that words hurt.

“While I may be immune to every word and be thicker skinned than most, it doesn't mean that I get to go around treating people with the same toughness that made my skin so thick. Because, that IS how people get thick skin... by being subjected to name calling/belittlement/abuse and its not fair.

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“Not fair to my fans, not fair to my peers but most importantly, Not fair to myself. By using those words i paint a picture of myself that isn't the true me. I paint the picture of my upbringings, my neighbourhood, my pain, and my misfortunes...

"I paint the picture of someone who is used to suppressing things, and being defensive. I paint the picture of someone who cannot allow themselves to be vulnerable or at the very least, Happy.... When i am ALL of those things.

“I'm sweet, i'm kind, i'm caring, i'm generous, i love to make people laugh and above all of it, I LOVE ART. I love to please and inspire others with my music and art the most, More than i love anything in the world. To lose out on a chance to make people feel good and smile and be happy would be the dumbest thing i could do in this lifetime.

More: Azealia Banks Accused Of Racism And Homophobia After Twitter Rant At Zayn Malik

“To end this note i want to SINCERELY apologise to my fans for having let so many of you down over the years. I know that you all want nothing else for me but to see me win, and i thank the many of you who saw the beauty in me and have stuck around this far."

Banks' Twitter attack on Malik saw the rapper not only banned from Twitter but also dropped from UK festival Rinse Born & Bred. Banks is also said to be under investigation from the Home Office, which could see her being banned from entering the UK.