DaBaby debacle continues after it appears he rescinds his apology

The consequences facing rapper DaBaby for remarks considered homophobic and serophobic continue to mount — and now, just days after out pop star Miley Cyrus went to bat for him, it appears he’s not looking for “forgiveness” after all.

After being dropped from the Lollapalooza Music Festival on August 1, DaBaby posted a statement on social media apologizing for his initial controversial comments. Now, that statement is no longer available, but his controversial music video and other posts justifying his initial comments remain up.

Related: Miley Cyrus can’t forgive DaBaby on behalf of LGBTQ people when he’s not sorry

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It all started at the Rolling Loud Miami festival in Miami Gardens, Florida on July 25. In an effort to energize the crowd, DaBaby made comments that subsequently went viral.

“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 requested from the audience.

“Fellas, if you ain’t sucking dick in the parking lot, put your cellphone lighter up,” he said. “Ladies, if your pussy smell like water, put your cellphone lighter up.”

In initial video posts and tweets after the controversy arose, DaBaby claimed that people living with HIV have “the right to be upset,” but he “ain’t trippin” on the LGBTQ community and that his comments were “digested” wrong.

Several days later, he released a new single called “Giving What It’s Supposed to Give,” where he raps: “Bitch, we like AIDS, I’m on your ass, we on your ass, bitch, we won’t go ‘way.”

He holds up a sign that says “AIDS” and then shots two men with pistols in the accompanying video. At the end of the video, he called out LGBTQ people hurt by his comments with the message “DONT FIGHT HATE WITH HATE” written in rainbow colors.

DaBaby was dropped from Lollapalooza, and subsequent reports indicate that the release stemmed from DaBaby’s failure to make what festival organizers considered an adequate effort to apologize. Rather than associate with him while he still appeared to stand by the comments, Lollapalooza organizers dropped his set on August 1, the day he was scheduled to perform.

Several other festivals and businesses have followed suit, dropping DaBaby from other scheduled festivals, shows, and endorsement deals.

On August 2, DaBaby issued a more formal apology statement on social media.

“I want to apologize to the LGBTQ+ community for the hurtful and triggering comments I made,” the statement read. “Again, I apologize for my misinformed comments about HIV/AIDS and I know education on this is important.”

That statement, however, is gone as of today.

Reports indicate that the remix to the Kanye West song “Nah Nah Nah,” which DaBaby was featured on, is no longer available on music streaming services either.

While several entertainers such as Elton John and Madonna criticized his comments, Cyrus came to DaBaby’s defense. She claimed in a post to Instagram that “the internet” was to blame for DaBaby’s loss of business opportunities and that LGBTQ people should not “cancel” him.

“It’s easier to cancel someone than to find forgiveness and compassion in ourselves,” Cyrus wrote, possibly a reference to the music festivals that have canceled DaBaby’s appearances following his hateful comments. “There’s no more room for division if we want to keep seeing progress!”

She told DaBaby to “check your DMs” in the caption on the statement.

In a recent open letter, several advocacy organizations — including the Black AIDS Institute, GLAAD and Southern AIDS Coalition — invited DaBaby to open a “dialogue” that would “address the miseducation about HIV, expressed in your comments, and the impact it has on various communities.”

It’s not clear if DaBaby has or will take Cyrus or the other organizers up on their offer, but it doesn’t appear he is seeking “forgiveness” anymore.

Meanwhile, other hip-hop stars and out entertainers have continued to denounce DaBaby’s comments. Out rapper Da Brat said his attitudes no longer represent hip hop culture.

“It’s way better now,” Da Brat told TMZ. “Back in the day it wasn’t cool.”

Megan Thee Stallion said in a recent interview that “It is about time” LGBTQ people are accepted in the hip hop community.

“Representation is important, and it is really crucial for us all to have compassion and acceptance of every human,” she told People Magazine.

In the same Rolling Loud performance that DaBaby made his initial comments, he also bought out Tory Lanez as a surprise guest. DaBaby’s relationship with Lanez have earned him additional ire since Lanez is accused of shooting Megan thee Stallion in the foot.

The apparent removal of his apology has only incensed people further, with many saying that this is proof that the statement wasn’t genuine anyway.