Today (August 1) on the final day of Lollapalooza 2021, the festival has announced that DaBaby will no longer perform at the event. “Lollapalooza was founded on diversity, inclusivity, respect, and love,” the festival tweeted earlier today. “With that in mind, DaBaby will no longer be performing at Grant Park tonight. Young Thug will now perform at 9:00pm on the Bud Light Seltzer Stage, and G Herbo will perform at 4:00pm on the T-Mobile Stage.” Find the full tweet below.
DaBaby’s removal from the event comes shortly after the rapper made homophobic comments while addressing the crowd at Rolling Loud Miami last weekend. “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 said. “Fellas, if you ain’t sucking dick in the parking lot, put your cellphone lighter up!”
Numerous artists spoke out after the fact, including Dua Lipa, who collaborated with DaBaby on her remix of the Future Nostalgia song “Levitating.” “I’m surprised and horrified at DaBaby’s comments,” she wrote in an Instagram story (viewed by Pitchfork). “I really don’t recognise this as the person I worked with. I know my fans know where my heart lies and that I stand 100% with the LGBTQ community. We need to come together to fight the stigma and ignorance around HIV/AIDS.” Elton John also spoke on the matter, stating that the rapper was spreading “HIV mistruths.” “This fuels stigma and discrimination and is the opposite of what our world needs to fight the AIDS epidemic,” he tweeted. Additionally, Demi Lovato and Madonna both shared Instagram posts decrying DaBaby’s comments
On Wednesday (July 28), DaBaby released a new single and corresponding video titled “Giving What It’s Supposed to Give.” The self-directed clip seemingly made two references to his Rolling Loud remarks. At one point in the video, the rapper holds up a sign that says “AIDS.” The visual ends with a message spelled out in rainbow lettering: “Don’t Fight Hate With Hate.” It continues: “My apologies for being me the same way you want the freedom to be you.”
Pitchfork has reached out to representatives for DaBaby and Lollapalooza for further comment.