Disputed and unverified reports claim that Israel paying influencers for social media mentions is real. One report now says that some of those payments have failed, and there’s a lawsuit worth millions.
On March 4, American rapper Azealia Banks denied it’s $7k in an X post. She, however, alleged that Israel is paying influencers for posts, including hers. She added, “Even the troll posts are paid….”
Is Israel paying influencers?
Banks’ post came in response to a post from The General alleging, “BREAKING: Israeli officials allegedly hired social media influencers for $7,000 per post, failed to pay them, and are now facing lawsuits totaling millions of dollars over unpaid invoices.”
The General cited a Calcalist article, stating, in part, “They have claims in the millions,” referring to influencers. It added, (translated from Hebrew via Google Translate), “They were recruited for advocacy at the height of the crisis.” Now, the post said, those influencers have “discovered that there was no one to pay.”
Grok responded,
The ‘$7k per post’ claim originated from a disputed Oct 2025 FARA filing on a $900k total campaign budget (incl. production/admin costs for 75-90 posts across 14-18 influencers).”
Grok added, “Fact-checks show it’s not confirmed per-influencer pay. No evidence anywhere of failed payments or lawsuits for millions in unpaid invoices—that part is fabricated.”
Azaelia Banks and Israel
Banks frequently posts about Israel, and in 2018, she performed in Tel Aviv. Afterward, she posted online that she experienced racism while visiting the country. She alleged restaurants refused to serve her and vowed at the time she would never return.
Despite the criticism, she also pushed back against claims that Israel was an apartheid state and criticized the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS), calling it antisemitic.
During the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, Banks posted a series of highly provocative messages on X, declaring herself a “Zionist.” She argued that Black Americans should not support the Palestinian cause, citing what she described as anti-Black racism in parts of the Arab world.
In several posts, she said “Palestine is not a country” and suggested the territory should ultimately be part of Israel. She also compared the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel to a hypothetical mass shooting at a U.S. music festival, arguing Israel was responding to terrorism rather than aggression. Several posts have mentioned the recent U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran.
One Banks’ comment on her post — claiming they do pay, just not $7k per post as mentioned — added, “people are dragging you for saying this but idk why… u literally were pretty damn brave for coming out and letting us know this theory is true and I appreciate it! Thanks”
Published: Mar 6, 2026 03:51 pm