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Celebrities condemn DaBaby for comments about HIV and homophobia

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Updated on June 16, 2023

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DaBaby, a rapper, has come under fire from celebrities and activists over remarks he made towards HIV/AIDS patients.

During the Rolling Loud Festival, the 29-year-old rapper encouraged fans to throw their cell phone flashlights in the air if they “didn’t show up today with HIV/AIDS or any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that will make you die in two to three weeks,” among other vile remarks about HIV/AIDS and the LGBTQ+ community.

On Monday, the rapper addressed his comments on Instagram Live, claiming that his live show was enjoyed by gay and straight fans alike. Then he claimed on Twitter that those living with AIDS and HIV had “the right to be upset” and that he had “no intentions on offending anybody.”

“& for any brands, networks, or artists that like to profit off of Black rappers influence on the culture, without understanding it or having the patience to deal with what comes with the position we play in our culture. Keep yo money next time,” he said in another tweet. He released the video for “Giving What It’s Supposed to Give,” on July 28, which includes a reference to his onstage remarks and ends with him holding a “AIDS” sign before the words “Don’t fight hate with hate” and “My apologies for being me the same way you want the freedom to be you” appear onscreen.

“We’ve been shocked to read about the HIV misinformation and homophobic statements made at a recent DaBaby show,” Elton John, who is homosexual and a veteran HIV crusader, said on Twitter.

“This fuels stigma and discrimination and is the opposite of what our world needs to fight the AIDS epidemic,” he tweeted before providing some HIV facts. “Homophobic and HIV misinformation have no place in our society or industry, and as musicians, we must spread compassion and love to our communities’ most marginalized members.”

Dua Lipa responded to the comments in an Instagram story, saying she was “horrified” by DaBaby’s statements and that she doesn’t recognize the person she worked with.

“I know my fans know where my heart lies and that I stand 100% with the LGTBQ community,” she wrote. “We need to come together to fight the stigma and ignorance around HIV/AIDS.”

Demi Lovato, who just came out as nonbinary and uses gender neutral pronouns, reposted an Instagram gallery post by makeup artist and queer activist Matt Bernstein explaining the dangers of DaBaby’s remarks. “Hot people listen to the original version of levitating,” they captioned the photo, alluding to the version of the song without DaBaby.

Madonna also used social media to deliver her “message” to DaBaby, releasing a video of his comments and saying, “If you’re going to make hateful remarks to the LGBTQ+ community about HIV/AIDS then know your facts.”

“After decades of hard won scientific research— there are now life saving medicines available to children born with HIV, to people who contract HIV through blood transfusions, dirty needles or exchange of bodily fluids,” she wrote. “These new ARV’s can keep a person with AIDS alive for the rest of their lives!!! AID’s is not transmitted by standing next to someone in a crowd.”

Candiace Dillard Bassett, who appears on “The Real Housewives of Potomac,” also expressed her displeasure with the remarks.

“To refer to HIV and AIDS as a ‘deadly disease’ that kills people in ‘2-3 weeks’ is disgusting and dangerous at best. Like. Why would you say that?” she tweeted.

DaBaby has also been dropped by apparel company Boohooman.

T.I., a fellow rapper, is among others who have defended DaBaby. “If Lil Nas X can kick his s— in peace… so should dababy #equality,” the performer said on an Instagram post of the popular footage.

“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,” T.I. stated on Instagram regarding rapper Lil Nas X being openly homosexual. “Ain’t nothing wrong with none of it. It ain’t got to be no hate. It’s all honesty. Everybody living in their truth.”