American rapper DaBaby has disappeared from the Parklife line-up in wake of making ‘hurtful and triggering’ comments aimed towards the LGBTQ+ community during a festival appearance.
The rapper, who is most known for hit ‘Rockstar’, was due to headline the Parklife festival at Heaton Park in September.
But, the rapper’s name has now been taken off Parklife’s line-up with many speculating the move is connected to an outburst during a performance at the Rolling Loud festival in Miami last month.
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While on stage, the rapper told crowds: “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.
“Fellas, if you ain’t sucking d**k in the parking lot, put your cellphone lighter up!”
The stage outburst led to the rapper being dropped by fashion brand BooHoo.
He was also dropped from a number of festivals around the world including Lollapalooza and the Governors Ball.
Parklife 2019
(Image: © Richard Johnson / Fanatic 2019)
A number of celebrities called out his comments including Dua Lipa, who collaborated with the rapper on ‘Levitating’, who said she was ‘surprised and horrified’ by his remarks.
“I really don’t recognise this as the person I worked with,” she said.
“I know my fans know where my heart lies and that I stand 100% with the LGBTQ community. We need to come together to fight the stigma and ignorance around HIV/AIDS.”
Sir Elton John said HIV misinformation ‘fuels stigma and discrimination’.
In an Instagram post, Madonna also wrote: “If you’re going to make hateful remarks to the LGBTQ+ community about HIV/AIDS, then know your facts.”
The star added: “I want to put my cellphone lighter up and pray for your ignorance.
The original Parklife 2021 line-up featured DaBaby (above) but it has since been updated with the artist’s name omitted (below)
(Image: Parklife)
“No one dies of AIDS in two or three weeks anymore.”
On August 2, DaBaby took to Instagram to apologise.
He wrote: “Social media moves so fast that people want to demolish you before you even have the opportunity to grow, educate, and learn from your mistakes.
“As a man who has had to make his own way from very difficult circumstances, having people I know publicly working against me — knowing that what I needed was education on these topics and guidance — has been challenging.
“I appreciate the many people who came to me with kindness, who reached out to me privately to offer wisdom, education, and resources. That’s what I needed and it was received.
“I want to apologise to the LGBTQ+ community for the hurtful and triggering comments I made.
“Again, I apologise for my misinformed comments about HIV/AIDS and I know education on this is important.”
Prior to publication we approached Parklife for comment on four occasions. They provided no further comment.
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