DaBaby 'apologized' to Black members of HIV organizations after viral homophobic rant
- DaBaby recently met with more than nine LGBTQ organizations after his homophobic rant, says a press release.
- The rapper is facing backlash for the "inaccurate" remarks he made about HIV.
- The organizations said DaBaby was "genuinely engaged" and "apologized" for his comments.
DaBaby had a "meaningful dialogue" with Black leaders from LGBTQ organizations and "apologized for the inaccurate and hurtful comments" he made during the Rolling Loud Festival in Miami this summer, according to a press release Tuesday.
The rapper, whose real name is Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, faced backlash from fans and celebrities such as Elton John and Dua Lipa after a video was shared online of the rapper making negative comments about HIV/AIDS-positive people and gay men during his live performance.
To encourage the crowd during the performance, DaBaby said people should put the mobile phone flashlights on if they "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."
The rapper initially doubled down on his comments, but after being dropped from music festivals such as Lollapalooza and organizations, including Boohoo, cut their professional ties with him, DaBaby issued an apology statement on Instagram, which has since been deleted.
Still, a press release for representatives from Black AIDS Institute, Gilead Sciences COMPASS Initiative Coordinating Centers, GLAAD, National Minority AIDS Council, The Normal Anomaly Initiative, Positive Women's Network-USA, Prevention Access Campaign, the Southern AIDS Coalition, and Transinclusive Group, said that DaBaby met with members of these organizations to discuss the impact of his comments.
"During our meeting, DaBaby was genuinely engaged, apologized for the inaccurate and hurtful comments he made about people living with HIV, and received our personal stories and the truth about HIV and its impact on Black and LGBTQ communities with deep respect," a statement about the meeting read.
Their meeting follows an an open letter from the groups along with others, criticizing his "inaccurate" comments he made and asking the 29-year-old rapper to meet with them.
The groups, dedicated to advocating for those in the LGBTQ community, continued in a statement that they "wish for him to use his platform to relay that critical information to his fanbase and encourage people to get tested and know their status."
Insider reached out to reps for DaBaby, but didn't immediately hear back.