“If you didn’t show up today with HIV, AIDS… any of them deadly diseases that make you die in two, three weeks, put your cell phone light in the air. Ladies if your p**** smell like water, put your cell phone light in the air. Fellas if you ain’t suck a n**** d*** in the parking lot, put your cell phone light in the air,” were the statements made by the hip hop star during his performance on July 25th at Miami’s Rolling Loud festival. DaBaby’s lack of knowledge about AIDS and his homophobic comments received backlash on social media from fans and celebrities. Pop singer Dua Lipa, Elton John, and Madonna all posted their disapproval in regards to DaBaby’s comments. Dua Lipa did a collabo with the rapper on the remix of her song “Levitating.” She expressed her disappointment in his remarks. “I’m surprised and horrified at DaBaby’s comments. I really don’t recognize this as the person I worked with,” Lipa wrote on her Instagram story.
Elton John took to Twitter to post about DaBaby not knowing the facts in regards to HIV/AIDS. He also touched on DaBaby’s comments fueling stigma and discrimination. Madonna expressed her opinion on Instagram. “If you’re going to make hateful remarks to the LGBTQ+ community about HIV/AIDS then know your facts.”
Fans also posted their opinions about the disappointing remarks. However, all of the fans weren’t disappointed. Some of the fans supported his right to state his opinion and they insisted the public shouldn’t attempt to cancel DaBaby. Initially, the rapper stood his ground as he posted a video defending his comments. He wasn’t alone in his defense as rapper T.I. made an appearance on Instagram and weighed in on the situation by using openly gay rapper Lil Nas X as an example. “If you gonna have the Lil Nas X video and him living his truth, you gonna damn sure have people like DaBaby who gonna speak their truth.”
The 29-year-old rap star issued a poorly-thought-out apology and then things went from bad to worse on July 28th when DaBaby released the video ‘Giving What It’s Supposed To Give.’ At the start of the video, the rapper is attending a police officer’s funeral. He views the body and then spits his chewing gum at the deceased officer. The next scene features him holding up a censored sign while being the recipient of a sexual act. Later in the video, he holds up an AIDS sign while rapping the lyric: B*tch we like AIDS, I’m on your a** we on your a**, b*tch we won’t go away.” The backlash from DaBaby’s actions hit social media and then it started hitting his pockets. The rapper was dropped by online fashion retailer Boohoo. He was cut from the Lollapalooza music festival lineup in Chicago. Then he was removed from the lineup of the Parklife 2021 festival, Governor’s Ball in New York, Day N Vegas, The iHeart Radio Music Festival, Austin City Limits Music Festival, and the Midtown Music Festival.
Back in June, it was announced that DaBaby would be the headliner for Colorado station KS 107.5’s Summer Jam concert that would also feature Jack Harlow and Saweetie. Now DaBaby is being blamed for the cancellation of the concert.
In addition to T.I., rapper Boosie Baddazz also came to DaBaby’s defense as he reacted to DaBaby getting kicked off festivals. “It’s sad how y’all trying to force this gay stuff on the world, it’s sad. How y’all trying to ban artists, y’all sad, bro.” Almost immediately after his video was posted, Boosie’s Instagram account was deactivated.
DaBaby’s rise to fame started as a member of XXL magazine’s 2019 freshman class. The Charlotte rapper’s debut album Baby on Baby peaked at number seven on the Billboard 200. As a result of the rapper’s success, he received fame and fortune. His second and third albums we’re back to back number one albums in the U.S. DaBaby was releasing hit after hit. He was distancing himself from the competition and he was winning. Now he’s come to the realization that the competition can’t slow him down. The only person who can derail his gravy train and cause him to take L’s is the man in the mirror.
