DaBaby has been removed from the lineup of the Governors Ball in New York City following homophobic comments he made at Rolling Loud.
On Monday, Founders Entertainment made the lineup change announcement ahead of September 24, when the festival is scheduled to kick off. Another artist will be announced in the coming weeks, they promised. This is the second festival to remove DaBaby from its lineup within the past 24 hours, as Lollapalooza made a similar announcement on Sunday.
“Founders Entertainment does not and will not tolerate hate or discrimination of any kind,” the statement reads. “We welcome and celebrate the diverse communities that make New York CIty the greatest city in the world. Thank you to the fans who continue to speak up for what is right. Along with you, we will continue to use our platform.”
Last week, DaBaby was quietly removed from the Parklife 2021 festival lineup, although a rep for the rapper claimed that his removal had nothing to do with the backlash from his recent homophobic remarks.
The backlash against DaBaby was sparked after the rapper shared highly questionable comments about HIV and AIDS during his set at Rolling Loud Miami last month.
“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 crowd in a clip that went viral. “Ladies, if your pussy smell like water, put your cellphone lighter up. Fellas, if you ain’t sucking dick in the parking lot, put your cellphone lighter up.”
GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) issued a response to DaBaby in the days that followed. “The rhetoric that DaBaby used is inaccurate, hurtful, and harmful to the LGBTQ community and the estimated 1.2 million Americans living with HIV,” wrote associate director of communities of color for GLAAD, DaShawn Usher. “It is critical that DaBaby and his fans learn that people living with HIV today, when on effective treatment, lead long and healthy lives and cannot transmit HIV.”
bohooMAN, with whom DaBaby had collaborated with for a 100-piece collection, announced that it had cut ties with the rapper. Others publicly criticizing DaBaby include Dua Lipa, Demi Lovato, Elton John, Questlove, and Madonna among many others.
