DaBaby dropped from Lollapalooza and Governors Ball after homophobic remarks
Rapper DaBaby has been dropped from two major music festivals — first Lollapalooza and now Governor's Ball — after making homophobic remarks and comments about HIV/AIDS.
The 29-year-old rapper was supposed to headline Lollapalooza in Chicago on the final night of the four-day event but was dropped from the lineup early Sunday. "Lollapalooza was founded on diversity, inclusivity, respect, and love. With that in mind, DaBaby will no longer be performing at Grant Park tonight," the organizers said in a statement.
Governors Ball, which is held annually in New York City, followed suit and dropped the rapper on Monday. "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," organizers said.
The fallout comes after DaBaby's comments at the Rolling Loud festival in Miami on July 25. "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 cell phone light up," the rapper said onstage. He also asked for men there who did not perform oral sex on another man in the parking lot to raise their phones.
His comments were immediately met with criticism online. He later said people misinterpreted his comments, but eventually apologized. "Anybody who done ever been affected by AIDS/HIV y'all got the right to be upset, what I said was insensitive even though I have no intentions on offending anybody. So my apologies," he tweeted. "But the LGBT community. I ain't trippin' on y'all, do you. Y'all business is y'all business."
His comments were immediately met with criticism online. He later said people misinterpreted his comments, but eventually apologized. On Monday, he issued a longer apology, calling his comments hurtful and triggering.
"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 said in a statement.
"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.
"I want to apologize to the LGBTQ+ community for the hurtful and triggering comments I made," he continued. "Again, I apologize for my misinformed comments about HIV/AIDS and I know education on this is important. Love to all. God bless."