Madonna slams DaBaby over homophobic remarks: ‘I want to put my cellphone lighter up and pray for your ignorance’
‘People like you are the reason we are still living in a world divided by fear’ artist wrote
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Madonna is the most recent musician to call out DaBaby for his homophobic comments during his performance at the Rolling Loud Festival in Miami.
The 29-year-old rapper, real name Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, was appearing at the event when he was filmed making negative comments about those living with HIV.
He said to the audience: “If you didn’t show up today with HIV, AIDS, any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that’ll make you die in two, three weeks, then put your cellphone light up.”
He continued: “Fellas, if you ain’t sucking d*** in the parking lot, put your cellphone lighter up.”
Madonna has written an open letter to the 29-year-old artist, calling him out for his behaviour. She wrote: “If you’re [DaBaby] going to make hateful remarks to the LGBTQ+ community about HIV/AIDS, then know your facts.”
The “Papa Don’t Preach” singer then highlighted educational facts about how “there are life-saving medicines available to children born with HIV”.
She also explained that “people who contract HIV through blood transfusions, dirty needles, or exchange of bodily fluids,” can be saved with the help of “new ARV’s (antiretrovirals) [that] can keep a person with AIDS alive for the rest of their lives”.
“I want to put my cellphone lighter up and pray for your ignorance,” she wrote in reference to DaBaby’s comments. “No one dies of AIDS in two or three weeks anymore.”
Madonna also hit out at the “Red Light Green Light” singer’s “sexist” remarks about “ladies who’s pu**ies need to smell like water”.
Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music
Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members)
Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music
Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members)
“[Your comments] only encourage more discrimination against women who fight daily against the oppression of living under the constraints of the Male Gaze,” wrote Madonna.
“People like you are the reason we are still living in a world divided by fear,” she added. “All Human beings should be treated with dignity and respect regardless of race, gender, sexual preference or religious beliefs. AMEN.”
DaBaby has released a new music video that appears to address the homophobic comments he made.
His original remarks caused a backlash online, with his former collaborator Dua Lipa saying she was “horrified” by his words.
The Ohio rapper was also dropped by the clothing brand boohooMAN.
On Wednesday, Dababy issued an apology on Twitter. He wrote: “Anybody who done ever been effected 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.”
The rapper also posted a lengthy, defensive Instagram post, complaining that a “substantial amount of people refuse to understand” his logic.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments