Rapper DaBaby will no longer perform a closing set at Lollapalooza on Sunday following a controversy over homophobic remarks, the Chicago music festival has announced.
The six-time Grammy-nominated artist, 29, came under fire for derogatory remarks referencing HIV/AIDS made during his set last Sunday at Rolling Loud festival in Miami. Days later, he embroiled himself in more controversy with similar sentiments after releasing his NSFW song and music video "Giving What It's Supposed to Give."
In one part of the music video, DaBaby holds up a sign that reads "AIDS" as he raps, "We like AIDS, I'm on your (expletive), we won't go away."
At the end of the video, a final screen reads in rainbow-colored letters: "Don't fight hate with hate. My apologies for being me the same way you want the freedom to be you."
On Sunday morning, the music festival tweeted: "Lollapalooza was founded on diversity, inclusivity, respect, and love. With that in mind, DaBaby will no longer be performing at Grant Park tonight."
USA TODAY has reached out DaBaby's representatives for further comment.
DaBaby, Big Wild and Foo Fighters were all originally scheduled to perform the final sets of Lollapalooza this weekend.
The rapper's 9 p.m. time slot on the Bud Light Seltzer Stage will be filled by Young Thug, who was initially slated to perform at 4 p.m. on the T-Mobile Stage. "PTSD" rapper G Herbo, who made a guest appearance during Miley Cyrus' set Thursday, will fill in for Young Thug.
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Among other derogatory remarks made during his set at Rolling Loud in Miami, per video shared by TMZ, DaBaby told the audience to raise their cellphone flashlights in the air “if you 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.”
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His comments, and subsequent apology, have been met with backlash from fellow musicians, including Madonna, Questlove, Elton John and Dua Lipa. Clothing company BoohooMan has also cut ties with the rapper.
DaBaby attempted to walk back his remarks Monday on Instagram Live, according to a screen recording posted on TMZ, saying his comments were a “call to action” instead of a rant, though he went on to make additional derogatory remarks about the LGBTQ community.
He has since apologized, saying he has nothing against the LGBTQ community.
“Anybody who done ever been effected by AIDS/HIV y’all got the right to be upset,” DaBaby tweeted. “What I said was insensitive even though I have no intentions on offending anybody.”
Contributing: Edward Segarra and Amy Haneline
