News

US music fest Lollapalooza drops DaBaby over AIDS comments

August 2, 2021 09:07 AM


Twitter Share Facebook Share WhatsApp Share

The US music festival Lollapalooza announced Sunday it had dropped DaBaby from its lineup after the rapper made homophobic comments and false statements about AIDS during a recent performance.

"Lollapalooza was founded on diversity, inclusivity, respect, and love. With that in mind, DaBaby will no longer be performing at Grant Park," the Chicago-based festival tweeted.

Musicians Young Thug and G Herbo would be taking his performance slots, Lollapalooza said.

DaBaby -- whose real name is Jonathan Lyndale Kirk -- sparked widespread backlash during a concert at the end of July, when he was accused of spreading misinformation about HIV and AIDS.

"If you didn't show up today with HIV, AIDS, any of them sexually transmitted diseases that'll make you die in two, three weeks, put your cell phone light up," he told the Miami crowd, according to videos shared on social media.

He also made homophobic comments and insulting statements about women.

Major names in music including Elton John, who founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and Madonna, a longtime proponent of HIV/AIDS research, called out the 29-year-old for spreading misinformation and contributing to the stigma around the diseases.

"HIV misinformation and homophobia have no place in the music industry. We must break down the stigma around HIV and not spread it," John's foundation said in a statement shared on the musician's Twitter.

"As musicians, it's our job to bring people together."

Pop star Dua Lipa, who collaborated with DaBaby on her song "Levitating," said she was "surprised and horrified" by his comments, while television star Jonathan Van Ness -- who is open about his experience living with HIV -- warned that the stigma around the diseases was "killing folks."

DaBaby later apologized on Instagram but was quickly slammed for saying in the video message that his gay fans didn't have AIDS because they "got class" and were not "nasty" or "junkies."

He then apologized again on Twitter, acknowledging what he had said was "insensitive" but adding it was unintentional.

DaBaby was nominated this year for the Grammy for Record of the Year for "Rockstar," a guitar-driven track featuring fellow rapper Roddy Ricch.

After enjoying several chart-topping months with "Rockstar," the musician released a Black Lives Matter remix of the hit that referred to the anti-racism protests that exploded in mid-2020 following the death of George Floyd, a Black man, in police custody.

DaBaby also includes lines about his own experiences of police abuse.

He rose to mainstream prominence in 2019 after releasing his debut studio album "Baby On Baby," which included his hit single "Suge."

He followed up that same year with his sophomore album "Kirk," which debuted on the Billboard albums chart in the top spot. "Rockstar" came off DaBaby’s third studio album "Blame It On Baby."



Most Read

  1. Maryam Nawaz can wear uniform! Maryam Nawaz can wear uniform!
  2. Madiha Rizvi ties the knot again Madiha Rizvi ties the knot again
  3. Here is all about Madiha Rizvi’s second husband Here is all about Madiha Rizvi’s second husband
  4. Zara Noor Abbas inspired by Rani Mukerji Zara Noor Abbas inspired by Rani Mukerji
  5. Two patients die, injuries of 12 others multiplied after roof collapse at Gujrat hospital Two patients die, injuries of 12 others multiplied after roof collapse at Gujrat hospital
  6. Humayun Saeed and Saboor Aly under fire for close interaction in public Humayun Saeed and Saboor Aly under fire for close interaction in public

Opinion

  1. Legacy of Indian military subjugation in Kashmir
    Legacy of Indian military subjugation in Kashmir

    By Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai

  2. Islamabad becoming the hub of international diplomacy
    Islamabad becoming the hub of international diplomacy

    By Salim Bokhari

  3. Insights into the Pakistan Stock Exchange's Recent Record High Triumph
    Insights into the Pakistan Stock Exchange's Recent Record High Triumph

    By Zulfiqar Ali Mir

  4. IMEC to sabotage CPEC
    IMEC to sabotage CPEC

    By Dr Asif Channer

  5. 1947 TO FORM 47
    1947 TO FORM 47

    By Dr Asif Channer

  6. Beijing wants to further highlight industrial sector in its country and take scientific innovation to new heights....
    Beijing wants to further highlight industrial sector in its country and take scientific innovation to new heights....

    By Ali Ramay