DaBaby recently spoke concerning the financial fallout from his past homophobic rant. The rapper, born Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, was on the rise from 2019 to 2020. His momentum stalled in 2021 after facing backlash from major brands, celebrities, and social media users. Now, he’s opening up concerning the impact it had on his funds.
DaBaby Says He Missed Out On A whole bunch Of Hundreds Of Dollars After Being Canceled In 2021
While appearing on the “Million Dollaz Value Of Game” podcast, DaBaby revealed he was making upward of $300,000 before being canceled in 2021.
“I had a calendar stuffed with shows. 350K, 350K, 375K, 400K, 300K,” he said before revealing his fee dropped significantly to “$30,000.”
Despite the fee change, DaBaby said he wasn’t deterred. Actually, he told the podcast host that he was greater than joyful to just accept those gigs.
“No, I went and got that,” he said.
Why Was DaBaby Canceled In 2021? His Homophobic Rant Went Viral
For those unfamiliar, DaBaby made headlines in July 2021 while acting at Rolling Loud Miami.
During his set, DaBaby made a series of homophobic and offensive comments. “Should 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 a few weeks, then put your cellphone lighter up,” he said.
“Ladies, in case your p—- smell like water, put your cellphone lighter up. Fellas, when you ain’t sucking d— within the parking zone, put your cellphone lighter up,” he added.
DaBaby, after all, received pushback; nevertheless, he defended himself online, calling himself the “best live performer” before saying his comments were misconstrued.
“My gay fans, they maintain themselves. They ain’t no nasty gay n—as. See what I’m saying? They ain’t no junkies on the street. The hell you talking about, n—as? Then I said when you ain’t sucking d— within the parking zone, put your cellphone lighter up. You recognize what my gay fans did? Put that motherf—ing light up, n—a, ’cause my gay fans ain’t going for that. They got class. They ain’t sucking no d— in no parking zone,” he wrote.
Celebrities Slam DaBaby After Sharing Homophobic Rant
The backlash DaBaby faced wasn’t limited to social media users. Celebrities also spoke out, including Dua Lipa, who had recently released a remix of her hit song “Levitating” featuring the rapper. Fans called for her to drag his feature, which she did.
“I’m surprised and horrified at DaBaby’s comments. I actually don’t recognize this because the person I worked with,” she said in a press release. “I do know my fans know where my heart lies and that I stand 100% with the LGTBQ community. We’d like to return together to fight the stigma and ignorance around HIV/AIDS.”
Demi Lovato, too, blasted the rapper, writing on Instagram that “HIV is just not a gay disease.”
Elton John and Madonna also condemned DaBaby’s statements, while the style brand BoohooMAN cut ties with the rapper following the discharge of their collaboration a month prior.
“Diversity and inclusion are a part of the boohoo Groups DNA and we pride ourselves on representing the various customers we serve across the globe. We stand by and support the LGBTQ+ community, and don’t tolerate hate speech or discrimination in any form,” their statement read.
Rapper Apologizes After Profession Begins To Suffer
After his comments, three different festivals pulled DaBaby from their lineups, seemingly prompting the rapper to issue an apology.
“Anybody who done ever been affected by AIDS/HIV y’all got the proper to be upset, what I said was insensitive though I actually have no intentions on offending anybody. So my apologies,” he wrote.
Days later, he issued one other apology on his Instagram, writing, “I would like to apologize to the LGBTQ+ community for the hurtful and triggering comments I made. Again, I apologize for my misinformed comments about HIV/AIDS and I do know education on this is essential. Like to all. God bless.”
Nonetheless, netizens noticed the apology had been deleted from his account lower than every week later.
Other Rappers Speak Out And Show Their Support
Rapper T.I. defended DaBaby following the scandal, saying he had a right to live his “truth.” After the situation blew up, he added, “I feel you guys have to know that onstage, that’s not the place that rappers go to be sensitive and soothe everybody’s feelings.”
“It’s a spot to go to have a great time,” he said, adding that DaBaby’s cancellation was like “bullying.”
Nick Cannon commented while appearing on “The Breakfast Club,” difficult those that were upset to make use of the moment to teach DaBaby fairly than cancel him. “It is a moment where we must always all gather around DaBaby and embrace him because if we will try this, watch what number of mentalities will change within the hip-hop community,” he said.