When DaBaby took time away from his Rolling Loud 2021 Miami set to unleash a homophobic diatribe against the LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS communities, he dug himself a hole. After weeks of apologies that were ignored, DaBaby is taking another step in repairing the harm he caused by apologizing again.
On August 31, Variety revealed that DaBaby had met with a group of nine American HIV organizations who sent him an open letter on August 4 demanding that he meet and talk about facts regarding HIV and hear personal stories from individuals living with the disease. Over 125 groups joined together to back the open letter addressed to Grammy-nominated rapper.
“The open letter to DaBaby was our way to extend him the same grace each of us would hope for,” the group wrote in a press release. “Our goal was to ‘call him in instead of calling him out.’ We believed that if he connected with Black leaders living with HIV that a space for community building and healing could be created. We are encouraged he swiftly answered our call and joined us in a meaningful dialogue and a thoughtful, educational meeting.”
Representatives from Black AIDS Institute, Gilead Sciences COMPASS Initiative Coordinating Centers, GLAAD, National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC), The Normal Anomaly Initiative, Positive Women’s Network-USA, Prevention Access Campaign (U=U), the Southern AIDS Coalition, and Transinclusive Group attended.
The organization wrote that DaBaby was “extremely engaged” in the meeting and apologized for his hurtful comments. The group also credited DaBaby’s great respect for others’ stories, as well as his eagerness to listen to them.
“DaBaby’s willingness to listen, learn, and grow can open the door to an entirely new generation of people to do the same,” Marnina Miller of the Southern AIDS Coalition, who participated in the meeting, said.
Despite the fact that DaBaby’s concerts were canceled several times, he would appear on Hot 97’s Summer Jam stage on August 23 and Boosie Badazz’s Boosie Bash five days later.
