In July of 2021, DaBaby took to the Rolling Loud festival stage and made misogynistic and homophobic comments.
“If you didn’t show up with HIV, AIDS, or any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that’ll make you die in two or three weeks, then put your cellphone lighters up….Fellas, if you ain’t sucking d—k in the parking lot put your cellphone lighters up.”
Understandably, the rapper received backlash on social media from listeners and fellow artists alike, outlining the offense caused and dangerous misinformation he had spread.
He took to Twitter two days later to post an apology
He also posted a more formal apology in Instagram, which has now been deleted. It read, “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.”
On August 31st, GLAAD announced in a joint post with DaBaby that the rapper had sat down with the organization and nine other groups to have an educational discussion about HIV and AIDS, and how his comments had been truly damaging to those living with the disease. DaBaby also promised to make donations to said organizations.
However, Black AIDS Institute, Positive Woman’s Network, and Normal Anomaly Initiative shared that they have yet to receive the promised donations and have not yet had any communications with the rapper since the August meetings when the money was promised.
“Since then, we have not received outreach, partnership, or funding from DaBaby.” Pavni Guhary, the Consultant for the Black AIDS Institute shared with People Magazine. “The onus is on him, if he chooses to, to convert his misinformation into allyship by supporting the work of the Black AIDS Institute and other people of color-led HIV organizations.”
Venita Ray, the co-executive director of Positive Woman’s Network also confirmed with People magazine that the organization had been essentially ghosted by the rapper as well.
The other six organizations who have yet to disclose are GLAAD, Gilead COMPASS, National Minority AIDS Council, Prevention ACCESS Campaign, the Southern AIDS Coalition and the Transinclusive Group. DaBaby has yet to make comment on the accusations.