DaBaby makes second apology over homophobic rant about HIV

DaBaby Credit: PA Media

US rapper DaBaby has offered another apology after facing a heavy backlash over crude and homophobic remarks he made at a music festival.

The Grammy-nominated performer said he was misinformed for his comments about HIV and Aids, in a social media post a day after he was cut from Lollapalooza’s line-up in Chicago.

Da Baby, whose real name is Jonathan Kirk, apologised to the LGBT+ community for his "hurtful and triggering" comments.


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The rapper had attempted to explain his comments last week, but his words only caused further outrage.

"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 wrote.

"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."

It is the second time DaBaby has apologised following his remarks at Miami’s Rolling Loud Festival.

While on stage, he used crude language and asked attendees who were not gay men or people not affected by HIV or Aids to raise their mobile phone flashlights.

He then incorrectly said the disease would "make you die in two or three weeks".

DaBaby’s remarks caused immediate condemnation.

In recent days, several artists including Madonna, Questlove and Sir Elton John have denounced his remarks.

Dua Lipa is among the stars to have condemned DaBaby’s comments Credit: Ian West/PA

Dua Lipa, who collaborated with DaBaby on the popular remix of her song Levitating, said she was "surprised and horrified" by his comments.

On Monday, New York City’s Governors Ball and Day N Vegas in Las Vegas each announced the rapper had been dropped from their line-ups.

The rapper, whose song Rockstar was one of the biggest hits last year, was previously nominated for a Grammy for record of the year.