DaBaby Holds Meeting With HIV Awareness Organizations, Apologizes for Harmful Rolling Loud Comments

DaBaby is looking to right his wrongs following the homophobic and insensitive comments he made this summer at Rolling Loud Miami. The rapper met with prominent HIV organizations to educate himself about the virus and apologize.

The “Bop” rapper has been in the news for weeks following his incendiary remarks regarding people living with HIV. Since his rant went viral, music festivals across the nation have dropped him from their lineup, and many celebrities have slammed him, including Elton John. However, HIV groups were not so quick to cancel the 29-year-old. Instead, they decided to “call him in instead of calling him out” earlier this month to teach him about the stigmas and dismantle wrong assumptions made about those living with HIV.

On August 25th, DaBaby sat down virtually with representatives with Gilead Sciences COMPASS Initiative Coordinating Centers, Black AIDS Institute, Positive Women’s Network-USA, National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC), GLAAD, The Normal Anomaly Initiative, Prevention Access Campaign (U=U), the Southern AIDS Coalition, and Transinclusive Group. The activists welcomed his participation and apology.

“DaBaby’s willingness to listen, learn, and grow can open the door to an entirely new generation of people to do the same,” said Marnina Miller of the Southern AIDS Coalition, who participated in the meeting.

The forum’s participants’ joint statement says that the Grammy-nominated rapper was “genuinely engaged” as he heard personal stories of HIV’s impact on the LGBTQ community and communities of color.

DaBaby has previously issued public apologies to the LGBTQ community and those living with HIV, though social media has labeled them ungenuine.

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