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Rapper goes on anti-gay rant while performing at potential super-spreader Florida music festival

Miami Gardens, Florida/USA - February 01, 2020: Vewtopia X Superfest Miami Live 2020. Saturday Live Performances in honor of the Super Bowl LIV.
Singer DaBaby performing on main stage at Vewtopia X Superfest Miami Live 2020 before Super Bowl LIV. Photo: Shutterstock

Grammy-nominated rapper DaBaby is facing criticism for his set at the Rolling Loud Miami festival, which was highlighted by a rant condemning people “with HIV, AIDS, or any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases, that’ll make you die in two to three weeks.”

The random speech came right after DaBaby had a shoe flung at him from the audience. It was right before he welcomed his collaborator Tory Lanez to the stage, which has earned both criticism due to allegations that Lanez had shot another rapper, Megan thee Stallion, in the foot. DaBaby’s comments and relationship with Lanez have earned him ire since.

Related: Miami drag club is getting death threats after QAnon congresswoman says they sexually abuse kids

In an apparent attempt to hype up the crowd between songs, DaBaby told the audience, “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 to the audience, “Ladies, if your pussy smell like water, put your cellphone lighter up.” Then, he continued, “Fellas, if you ain’t sucking dick in the parking lot, put your cellphone lighter up.”

“Let’s be real about this shit,” a different voice is heard saying in the background.

 

The remarks went viral, as well as another moment from the show right before, when an audience member threw a shoe at DaBaby.

It immediately earned him comparisons to former President George W. Bush, who had two shoes flung at him at a press conference in Iraq in 2008, toward the end of his presidency.

“Who the fuck threw that motherfucking… busted ass, god-damn Adida?” he asked right after dodging the shoe. He would later take off his own shoes and throw them into the crowd.

“Adida” began trending on Twitter afterwards.

DaBaby’s unprovoked serophobia (hatred or fear for someone living with HIV) and homophobia have earned him condemnation online.

Many noted that the comments further stigmatized people living with HIV or other sexually transmitted infections. It also furthers misinformation about how STIs work, as research shows that most STIs do not cause death alone, let alone in under three weeks.

Most deaths after becoming HIV-positive are from complications related to HIV, not from HIV alone, and mortality from HIV-related causes has drastically decreased due to recent advances in treatment against the virus.

Some also noted the hypocrisy in praising those who do not have a viral infection, during a pandemic caused by a virus that has infected millions of Americans.

Advocates for people living with HIV/AIDS have also condemned DaBaby’s remarks.

Some of DaBaby’s fellow hip hop stars have defended him. T.I., a fellow rapper and reality show star, supported DaBaby’s remarks, suggesting they should be treated with “equality” compared to Nas X’s behavior.

“If Lil Nas X can kick his shit in peace… so should DaBaby 🤷🏾‍♂️,” T.I. said in a comment on Instagram, “#equality.”

Lil Nas X and DaBaby previously collaborated on the remix to Nas’s single “Panini”.

The comments serve as a continuation of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric levied at Nas X all weekend following the release of his latest song, “Industry Baby.”

Right after his remarks, DaBaby revealed a surprise guest performer, Tory Lanez, to the audience.

Lanez is currently facing criminal charges related to an incident last year where Megan Thee Stallion suffered injuries from a gunshot wound in her foot. He pled not guilty on assault charges in October and faces an upcoming trial, which he is barred by injunction from commenting on publicly.

DaBaby and Lanez performed their recent collaboration, “SKAT,” and DaBaby then performed the song “Cry Baby,” his collaboration with Megan, with Lanez on stage.

DaBaby’s set had followed Megan’s own set on the same stage. She recently called out DaBaby for working with Lanez. That also earned DaBaby condemnation.

Concerns about the Rolling Loud festival were levied as the three-day fest was held without social distancing or other precautions against the further spread of coronavirus. Proof of vaccination or even claiming to be vaccinated wasn’t a requirement to attend.

Over 100 artists were scheduled to perform and crowds estimated to number in the tens of thousands took to Miami Gardens this weekend for the festival, held outside Hard Rock Stadium. Observers expect a “surge” to result from the festival.

Rolling Loud co-founder Tariq Chereff countered concerns by saying he was going to provide hand sanitizer at the festival.

Currently, Florida leads the country in newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases. Miami-Dade County is averaging 56 new cases per 100,000 tests, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Part of the main stage for Rolling Loud had collapsed prior to the weekend beginning. It had to be rebuilt prior to the festival commencing.

There was also criticism for several sets not being made available for fans that were watching online, such as Megan’s and Lil Uzi Vert’s sets.

Rolling Loud called DaBaby’s set after “ONE OF THE BEST SETS OF THE WEEKEND.”

They have not commented on the controversy arising from his remarks.

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