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DaBaby has drawn widespread criticism for
telling the audience at a weekend gig in Miami to "put your cell
phone light up" except for those who were HIV-positive, "(had)
any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that’ll make
you die in two or three weeks," or gay men who performed sex
acts in car parks.
The rapper has since apologised.
"We've been shocked to read about the HIV misinformation and
homophobic statements made at a recent DaBaby show. This fuels
stigma and discrimination and is the opposite of what our world
needs to fight the AIDS epidemic," John, who has his own AIDS
charitable foundation, said on Twitter late on Wednesday.
"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."
John, a longtime campaigner in the fight against HIV/AIDS, also
posted several factual tweets, saying those who are HIV-positive
can lead long and healthy lives thanks to treatment.
Singer Dua Lipa has also criticised DaBaby, who features on her
song "Levitating", saying she was "surprised and horrified" by
his comments. Label boohooMan said it would no longer work with
him.
DaBaby addressed the online backlash several times this week, at
first defending himself, then later saying critics had "digested
(them) wrong" and apologising.
"Anybody who done ever been effected (sic) by AIDS/HIV, y’all
got the right to be upset, what I said was insensitive even
though I have no intentions on offending anybody. So my
apologies," he wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Bernadette
Baum)
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