DaBaby has met with nine HIV- awareness organizations to educate himself after making homophobic comments at Miami’s Rolling Loud festival.
After backlash led to the cancellation of many of his concert appearances this month, the 29-year-old rapper listened to personal stories of those ‘living and thriving with HIV,’ according to a press release shared on Tuesday.
The musician also discussed facts about the sexually transmitted disease from the groups, which sought to ‘to call him in instead of calling him out.’
Making amends: DaBaby has met with nine HIV- awareness organizations to educate himself after making homophobic comments at Miami’s Rolling Loud festival last month; seen in June
Earlier this month, 11 prominent HIV/AIDS organizations reached out to DaBaby, hoping to talk to him after his controversial remarks.
In a statement, obtained on Tuesday by Variety, the organizations wrote: ‘The open letter to DaBaby was our way to extend him the same grace each of us would hope for.
‘During our meeting, DaBaby was genuinely engaged, apologized for the inaccurate and hurtful comments he made about people living with HIV, and received our personal stories and the truth about HIV and its impact on Black and LGBTQ communities with deep respect,’ the groups continued.
The letter went on to say: ‘We appreciate that he openly and eagerly participated in this forum of Black people living with HIV, which provided him an opportunity to learn and to receive accurate information.’
Nearly a dozen groups came together to send an open letter to the Suge rapper urging DaBaby to use his ‘platform and celebrity to heal not harm.’
The Cleveland native sparked outrage after making homophobic and factually inaccurate remarks about gay men and HIV on stage in Miami on July 23.
Since, he has been dropped from prominent festivals, including Lollapolooza, New York’s Governors Ball, Austin City Limits, and iHeartRadio music fest.
Learning from his mistakes: After backlash led to the cancellation of many of his concert appearances this month, the 29-year-old rapper listened to ‘personal stories of living and thriving with HIV,’ according to a press release on Tuesday (pictured this month)
During his set at Rolling Loud, the rapper told audiences: ‘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 cell phone lighter up…
‘Fellas, if you ain’t sucking d*** in the parking lot, put your cell phone lighter up.’
The backlash was swift, with celebrities like Levitating collaborator Dua Lipa and prominent AIDS activists Elton John and Madonna all expressing their dismay.
Important discussions: Earlier this month, nearly a dozen prominent HIV/AIDS organizations reached out to DaBaby, hoping to educate him after his controversial comments at Rolling Loud festival
The organizations Arianna’s Center, Black AIDS Institute, GLAAD, the Normal Anomaly Initiative, Prevention Access Campaign, Relationship Unleashed, and the 6:52 Project Foundation joined leaders from the Gilead COMPASS Initiative including Southern AIDS Coalition, Emory University, the University of Houston and Wake Forest University crafted the open letter.
In the detailed letter, they touched on the danger ‘fear and stigma’ over HIV/AIDS causes while providing information and statistics about the virus.
They also pointed to the music industry historical support for their cause, writing: ‘Music artists have historically led the way to lift up understanding of HIV and accelerate LGBTQ acceptance.’
On August 2 DaBaby – real name Jonathan Lyndale Kirk – shared a second apology, in which he said sorry for the ‘hurtful and triggering comments’ and claimed he used the backlash as a way the ‘educate’ himself about the LGBTQ community and HIV/AIDS.
Taking to social media with a black and white text post, he struck a more conciliatory tone than his first mea culpa, but still criticized the public for ‘trying to demolish’ his reputation.
Second try: On August 2, DaBaby – real name Jonathan Lyndale Kirk – shared a second apology, in which he said sorry for the ‘hurtful and triggering comments’ and claimed he used the backlash as a way the ‘educate’ himself about the LGBTQ community and HIV/AIDS
‘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.
‘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,’ he continued.
Adding: ‘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.’
Half-hearted: Last week, the Ball If I Want To rapper issued lackluster apology, tweeting that he had ‘no intentions on offending anybody’ and acknowledging what he said was ‘insensitive’
Sorry, not sorry: After an underwhelming initial apology, DaBaby doubled down in his self-directed music video for Giving What It’s Supposed to Give depicting him holding an AIDS sign and oral sex from a redhead
DaBaby’s second sorry was a sharp turnaround from his previous response to the backlash.
Two weeks ago, the Ball If I Want To rapper issued lackluster apology, tweeting that he had ‘no intentions on offending anybody’ and acknowledging what he said was ‘insensitive.’
Then the very next day, DaBaby doubled down in his self-directed music video for Giving What It’s Supposed to Give depicting him holding an AIDS sign and oral sex from a redhead.
The hip-hop star concluded his suspiciously-timed video with a rainbow-shaded message reading: ‘Don’t fight hate with hate. My apologies for being me the same way you want the freedom to be you.’