DaBaby is apologizing to the LGBTQ community for a second time.
After being dropped from two more festivals, for his controversial comments at Rolling Loud last month, the rapper is issuing another apology. In an Instagram statement on Aug. 2, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native started his message by saying that before having “the opportunity to grow, educate and learn from [his] mistakes,” people are quick to “demolish” him.
He went on to thank people who have directly messaged him with “kindness” and offered him “wisdom, education, and resources.” The 29-year-old said, “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. Again, I apologize for my misinformed comments about HIV/AIDS and I know education on this is important. “Love to all. God bless. – DaBaby.”
At the July 23-25 event, in the middle of his set, the “Vibez” rapper first received backlash for bringing out Tory Lanez, which many fans saw as disrespectful and an antagonizing act against his former friend Megan Thee Stallion, who last year accused Lanez of shooting her in the foot after a party.
While the case seems to be pending, Megan and Tory are no longer friends, and Megan recently cut off DaBaby — whom she’s done several songs with — following the release of his new song with Tory Lanez. Megan and DaBaby went back and forth on Twitter about loyalty in the aftermath.
As if that wasn’t enough, to get the crowd riled up, DaBaby began to shout out random statements. He said, “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.” Then also added, “Fellas, if you ain’t sucking d— in the parking lot, put your cellphone lighter up.”
Critics accused DaBaby of being homophobic as well as making insensitive comments about sexually transmitted diseases. At first, he released a video claiming that his words were “twisted” and taken out of context, saying that people who watched a “5-6 second clip” would not understand the experience like someone who was watching live. He later apologized on Twitter to people who have been infected with HIV/AIDs and also told the LGBTQ community to “do you.”
But apparently, his apology lacked remorse, and critics continued to voice their concerns over the rapper’s comments. He’s made several other comments, but none has satisfied those offended by his words. Even his newest apology has fans giving mixed reactions.
One person said, “His PR apology should have been first and he should have just been quiet lol,” and another wrote, “How many times does he have to apologize. I honestly don’t think he meant any harm. He just have a strong personality and y’all have to understand that. That man didn’t meam no harm.”
Someone else said, “It’s the way he responded to the backlash the first time. He was real cocky about it and made it seem like he didn’t care about his business relationships being affected.” But another one of his supporters said, “Glad to see the growth 🙌🏿.”
However, with his actions there came many consequences. He first lost out on his clothing line deal with Boohoo Man, then was dropped from the UK Parklife Festival, Lollapalooza, The Govenors Ball Festival, and the Day N Vegas Festival.
