Fact-Check: "DaBaby was canceled because he is black"
What We Know
The claim that DaBaby was canceled due to his race is not supported by the facts surrounding the events leading to his cancellation. DaBaby, a rapper from Charlotte, North Carolina, faced backlash primarily due to homophobic remarks he made during his performance at the Rolling Loud festival in July 2021. During his set, he made comments that were widely condemned as offensive to the LGBTQ+ community, including remarks about HIV/AIDS and derogatory statements about gay men. Following this incident, he faced immediate repercussions, including being dropped from multiple festival lineups such as Lollapalooza and Governors Ball.
The backlash was swift and significant, with brands like BooHooMan severing ties with him and major radio stations pulling his music from airplay. The cancellations were explicitly linked to his comments about the LGBTQ+ community, as festival organizers cited values of "diversity, inclusivity, respect, and love" in their decisions to remove him from their lineups (Billboard, GQ).
Analysis
The assertion that DaBaby was canceled because he is black overlooks the specific context of his comments and the nature of the backlash he faced. While it is true that discussions about race and cancel culture are complex, the evidence points to his homophobic remarks as the primary reason for the backlash. For instance, Digital Music News outlines a timeline of events that clearly links the cancellations to his comments rather than his race.
Moreover, the claim fails to consider the broader context of cancel culture, where individuals from various backgrounds have faced consequences for offensive remarks. The Moguldom article discusses how different types of comments can lead to varying degrees of backlash, indicating that the nature of the comment—rather than the race of the individual—often determines the response.
The sources used to evaluate this claim are credible and provide a comprehensive view of the events. They include reputable outlets like Billboard and CNN, which reported extensively on the incident and its fallout. These sources are known for their journalistic integrity and have no apparent bias in the coverage of DaBaby's comments.
Conclusion
The claim that DaBaby was canceled because he is black is False. The evidence clearly indicates that his cancellation was a direct result of his homophobic comments made during a performance, which sparked widespread outrage and led to significant professional repercussions. The discussions surrounding race and cancel culture are important, but in this case, the specific actions and comments made by DaBaby were the catalyst for the backlash, not his race.
Sources
- Rolling Loud - Wikipedia
- Why Was DaBaby Canceled? A Timeline of What Happened
- DaBaby's Homophobic Comments Controversy: A Timeline - Billboard
- Black America: Why Do Rappers Get Canceled For ... - Moguldom
- How DaBaby's Homophobic Comments at Rolling Loud Set Off a ...
- DaBaby's Lollapalooza Gig Canceled After His Comments About ...
- DaBaby: Lollapalooza cancels rapper’s performance after ...
- Why Is DaBaby Getting Canceled? The Rapper Has Returned to ...