DaBaby’s apology to the LGBTQ community has been deleted from Instagram
The rapper's first seemingly sincere apology post didn't even last a week.
By Will Stroude
Words: Will Stroude
DaBaby’s apology to the LGBTQ community has been deleted from Instagram.
Less than a week after a written statement was shared on the ‘Rockstar’ rapper’s profile apologising for “hurtful” and “misinformed” comments he made during Rolling Loud Festival in Miami, the post appears to have been unceremoniously taken down.
During his initial onstage outburst, DaBaby has told the watching crowd: “If you didn’t show up today with HIV, AIDS, any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that’ll make you die in two, three weeks, then put your cellphone light up.”
He also said: “Fellas, if you ain’t sucking d*** in the parking lot, put your cellphone lighter up.”
DaBaby’s response to the ensuing controversy has been a series of mixed messages and garbled non-apologies.
After initially defending his comments in a video on Instagram, DaBaby later apologised on Twitter (in a still-visible tweet), saying of his HIV/AIDS remarks: “What I said was insensitive even though I have no intentions on offending anybody.”
As for the homophobia, he added of LGBTQ people: “I ain’t trippin on y’all, do you. y’all business is y’all business.”
Then, in an apparent nod to the controversy, the video for DaBaby’s latest single ‘Giving What It’s Supposed To Give’ concluded with a remoreseless written message that read: “Don’t fight hate with hate. My apologies for being me the same way you want the freedom to be you”.
With stars including Dua Lipa, Sir Elton John and Madonna publicly slamming his remarks, DaBaby also found himself dropped from a series of festivals including Chicago’s Lollapalooza, Manchester’s Parklife, and Governor’s Ball in New York.
The musician also lost a high-profile endorsement deal with boohooMAN.
It was at the point the penny appeared to drop, with a short apology statement being shared on DaBaby’s Instagram page on 2 August, written in a noticeably more formal style than any of his previous public acknowledgements of the controversy.
“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,” the statement read.
“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 apologise to the LGBTQ+ community for the hurtful and triggering comments I made. Again, I apologise for my misinformed comments about HIV/AIDS and I know education on this is important.”
On Sunday (8 August), less than a week after the statement was shared, Twitter account @PopCrave first noticed that the apology had been emoved form DaBaby’s Instagram profile (as reported by Vulture).
Attitude has approached representatives for DaBaby for comment.