After a week of controversy, rapper DaBaby has issued a formal apology for the anti-gay comments he made at Rolling Loud Miami festival last Sunday.
In a video from the live-streamed event, the "Rockstar" rapper addresses the crowd, "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."
He continued, "Ladies, if your p*ssy smell like water, put your cellphone lighter up. Fellas, if you ain’t sucking d*ck in the parking lot, put your cellphone lighter up.” Another person on stage then adds, “Let’s be real about this shit, some of y’all n****s suspect as a motherf*cker.”
When DaBaby was called out for the comments online, he doubled down on an Instagram live and said his words were meant as "a call to action" and that his gay fans "don’t got f*cking AIDS" because they aren’t "nasty" or "junkies."
After being called out Elton John, Madonna, and "Levitating" collaborator Dua Lipa, as well as being removed from Lollapalooza, the Governors Ball, and Day N Vegas festival lineups, it seems the impact of what he said has finally been understood.
"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 began on 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."
DaBaby concluded, "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."