Lollapalooza drops rapper DaBaby after homophobic remarks

Lollapalooza announced that it dropped hip-hop act DaBaby from performing his set at the popular music festival in the aftermath of homophobic remarks toward the LGBTQ community. 

“Lollapalooza was founded on diversity, inclusivity, respect, and love,” the music festival said in a statement on Sunday. 

“With that in mind, DaBaby will no longer be performing at Grant Park tonight,” it added.

Lollapalooza was founded on diversity, inclusivity, respect, and love. With that in mind, DaBaby will no longer be performing at Grant Park tonight. Young Thug will now perform at 9:00pm on the Bud Light Seltzer Stage, and G Herbo will perform at 4:00pm on the T-Mobile Stage. pic.twitter.com/Mx4UiAi4FW

— Lollapalooza (@lollapalooza) August 1, 2021

The decision came after DaBaby sparked criticism with homophobic remarks during his set at the Rolling Loud music festival last week. 

“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,” the “Suge” rapper said during his set. “Fellas, if you ain’t sucking d— in the parking lot, put your cellphone lighter up!” 

DaBaby this is weird to say?? Wth. pic.twitter.com/MDBQEZ2NsA

— ➰ᴺᴹ (@KingSeanSwae) July 26, 2021

Legendary musician Elton John, who is openly gay, took to Twitter on Wednesday and called out the rapper for his controversial comments, saying that  “a musician’s job is to bring people together.”

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Homophobic and HIV mistruths have no place in our society and industry and as musicians, we must spread compassion and love for the most marginalised people in our communities.

A musician’s job is to bring people together.

— Elton John (@eltonofficial) July 28, 2021

DaBaby, whose real name is  Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, apologized for his comments at the concert, saying he had “no intentions on offending anybody.”