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DaBaby apologises for homophobic comments as he’s dropped by more festivals

By Andy Malt | Published on Tuesday 3 August 2021

As he had more festival appearances cancelled yesterday, DaBaby offered a full apology for comments he made last month during a performance at Rolling Loud Miami. He also criticised the speed of social media – and the backlashes that unfold there – for not giving him time to learn from his mistakes.

“Social media moves so fast that people want to demolish you before you even have the opportunity to grow, educate, and learn from your mistakes”, he wrote in a statement posted to Instagram. “As a man who has had to make his own way from very difficult circumstances, having people I know publicly working against me – knowing that what I needed was education on these topics and guidance – has been challenging. I appreciate the many people who came to me with kindness, who reached out to me privately to offer wisdom, education, and resources. That’s what I needed and it was received”.

Moving on to the actual apology, he said: “I want to apologise to the LGBT+ community for the hurtful and triggering comments I made. Again, I apologise for my misinformed comments about HIV/AIDS and I knew education on this is important”.

On stage at Rolling Miami last month, of course, DaBaby told his audience: “If you didn’t show up today with HIV, AIDS, or any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that’ll make you die in two to three weeks, then put your cellphone lighter up. Ladies, if your pussy smell like water, put your cellphone lighter up! Fellas, if you ain’t sucking dick in the parking lot, put your cellphone lighter up!”

As well as be widely criticised online, the comments saw him dropped from a brand partnership with fashion firm Boohoo. Then last weekend he was dropped at the last minute from the line-up of the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago. Following that, yesterday he was also dropped from The Governors Ball in New York and Day N Vegas in Las Vegas.

In a statement, organisers of the Governors Ball said: “Founders Entertainment does not and will not tolerate hate or discrimination of any kind. We welcome and celebrate the diverse communities that make New York City the greatest city in the world. Thank you to the fans who continue to speak up for what is right. Along with you, we will continue to use our platform for good”.

Day N Vegas made no statement in relation to the controversy around DaBaby’s comments, but announced yesterday that he had been replaced on the line-up by Roddy Ricch.