Miley Cyrus has said she’d like to talk with DaBaby and see what she and he can learn from each other. In an Instagram posting yesterday evening, the ‘Wrecking Ball’ singer suggested it can be easy and tempting to “cancel” someone without trying to educate or change hearts and minds first.
“As a proud and loyal member of the LGBTQIA+ community, much of my life has been dedicated to encouraging love, acceptance, and open mindedness,” she stated in a posting.
“The internet can fuel a lot of hate & anger and is the nucleus of cancel culture,” Cyrus wrote, “but I believe it can also be a place filled with education, conversation, communication & connection.
“It’s easier to cancel someone than to find forgiveness and compassion in ourselves or take the time to change hearts and minds. There’s no more room for division if we want to keep seeing progress! Knowledge is power! I know I still have so much to learn!”
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In a caption accompanying her post, Cyrus made it clear she was aiming this at DaBaby.
“@DaBaby check your DMS – would love to talk and see how we can learn from each other and help be part of making a more just and understanding future! For more info @greaterthanaids is a great resource! 🌈💕 @happyhippiefdn”
DaBaby has had a huge backlash since his appearance at the Miami Rolling Loud festival on Sunday, July 25. During his performance, the rapper invited some of the audience to hold their cellphone lights aloft: ”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! Ladies, if your p***y smell like water, put your cellphone lighter up! Fellas, if you ain’t sucking di** in the parking lot, put your cellphone lighter up!”
His words have been condemned by Dua Lipa (with whom he’d recently collaborated), Madonna and Elton John, and advocacy groups like GLAAD, among many others. He also lost a commercial deal with the online clothing company BoohooMan.
He issued a half-assed attempt at an apology a couple of days later, saying he meant no harm to LGBTQ people. He also said he had gay fans, but they weren’t the type to have AIDS. Unsurprisingly, this only made things worse, as did dropping a video for a new track a couple of days later which again made references to AIDS.
Related: DaBaby release new music video with further references to AIDS
Last weekend, he was dropped from several major music festivals, including Lollapalooza, the Governors Ball and Austin City Limits. More festival cancellations are likely. Two days ago, DaBaby finally issued a more fulsome apology, saying he wanted to grow, educate himself and learn from his mistakes.
“I want to apologize to the LGBTQ community for the hurtful and triggering comments I made. Again, I apologize for the misinformed comments I made about HIV/AIDS and I know education on this is important.”
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The response to Cyrus’s invitation to talk has been mixed. On the positive side, Drag Race alum Gia Gunn commented, “I see you Miley…love conquers all🤍”, while Bianca Del Rio posted a string of love hearts.
Trinity K Bonet replied, “I probably should be at that table talk wit y’all…you know to lay down the day to day facts…. but following your lead miss Miley.. all help is needed on this topic.. love you much❤️”
However, others strongly disagreed.
“He is a millionaire who can obviously afford education if he truly wanted to.. his hate and lack of knowledge kills lgbtq+ members everyday. That’s the image he portrays and the image kids are going to follow. It is not your of any lgbtq+ member job to educate him anymore,” was one well-liked comment from @juhaynadjebara.
In a similar vein, and also prompting thousands of likes, @alexpc_1 said, “The gag is Miley….he doesn’t care lol he doesn’t WANT to learn. He keeps posting about how unbothered he is. The man is not humble and don’t give a shit.”
Related: Boosie Badazz defends DaBaby: “in 10 years it ain’t gonna be normal for a kid to be straight.”
Cyrus has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights, and in 2015 launched her own Happy Hippie Foundation. The foundation focuses on youth homelessness (particularly among LGBTQ youth), the LGBTQ community, and other vulnerable populations.
In a further demonstration of sitting down to talk with figures that have faced similar backlash over homophobia, Cyrus was also among the first guests this week to take part in Kevin Hart’s new talk show (Heart to Hart). The first three episodes premiered on Peacock yesterday, with new episodes appearing each Thursday. Cyrus shared a teaser video to her Instagram stories.
Jack Meoff
Wow one train wreck reaching out to another. What could possibly go wrong there…….
SpoogeSF
At least you’re not judgy. Must be hard being perfect. Let me guess, you’re a millennial???
whateverokok
At least she has a credible point that should be taken to heart. What is yours? Be a queen, throw some shade, and you’ll be nothing more than a bitter pill no one wants around. That’s a great way to live. Hope that works out for you. You are just another part of this “broken social scene”.
jsmu
Aaaaand the Hannah MONTANA trollettes are already out, throwing around their tired little ‘Mean Girls’ attempts at insult. What a joke you both are!
Cam
I’ve liked Cyrus and her advocacy for the community for years and her willingness to risk losing fans by publicly stating that if they didn’t approve of LGBTQ rights, then she didn’t want them as fans. So major kudos to her for that, that said…..
If Cyrus wants to be the next Ellen who grants absolution to bigots on behalf of the entire LGBTQ community, she can go down that road, but I’m not here for it.
Also, she says she’s a member of the LGBTQ community, but last I saw she is a cis woman who has a string of relationships with men, no women, no trans or non-binary people in the mix. Most recently she left Liam Hemsworth and then dated Cody Simpson.
I think her heart’s in the right place, but I’m a little over people who’ve only been in hetero relationships proclaiming their queerness and striving to represent for the community when they aren’t the ones who would be the target of the bigotry they’re telling us to ignore.
Maybe I’m over thinking, but DaBaby came for the community, for people with AIDS, and others, he wasn’t the one attacked and isn’t the victim. I have a feeling losing his endorsements is a better teacher than anything said by Cyrus across a table. I’ll be happy if I’m wrong and good luck to her, but I’m not holding my breath.
Kenny C
Completely agree with your statement. Moreover, His statement not only attacked the LGBTQ community, stigmatized HIV but it was horribly disrespectful to women…. Is there no accountability for that. I’m honestly surprised this is the hill she chooses to defend and says nothing in defense of women.
Why in the world of all people… DaBaby! Why are these people defending HIM!? To be sure, he doesn’t care and that apology was clear attempt to stop the bleeding after the music festival circuit started canceling his bookings.
Canadiancub
Weird. Cam has no idea what he’s talking about again ? she has dated women. Look it up before u open your mouth. After she got divorced it was highly publicized that she was dating the girl who left Brody Jenner. There’s so much proof but thanks for the gate keeping.
Chrisk
As far as being a member of the “LGBTQIA+” community…Lol Yeah, girl I’m sure your privileged life growing up as a rich white straight women makes you relate so much.
If the shoe was on the other foot and it was some white celebrity saying blacks are full of Syphilis, will die soon, and should just stay away then no one would be calling for love and acceptance. What she wants is there to be no consequences.
Hating on gays has always been a right of passage for allot of rappers. It gives them some kind of street cred and their audience eats it up. It was all fun and games though till venues started canceling him and clothing lines dropped him. Now his managers and publicists are making the calls to get an army of apologists out to defend the wanna be thug.
Donston
Y’all really need to stop using the word “thug” every time it’s a black man that does/says something horrible. There is just too much racial coding in that word. Throw it out of the vernacular.
Donston
Miley does have to realize her limitations and what she can speak on with any real weight. I’m fine with her expressing that it’s sometimes best to communicate than to simply be angry and attempt to straight-up “cancel”. But she also needs to remember that she’s a white, female presenting bio female who has only had substantial hetero commitments and who grew up rich. Dababy’s comments were targeting non hetero behaving/“gay”/“queer” male-presenting bio black males. This is out of your range. You really can’t really speak for anyone but yourself, but you especially can’t speak for that demo. This is one of the issues with the umbrella of queer-dom. Some feel that it gives them the right to speak for everybody. And Miley is always hype to try to prove her pride. You also need to respect that some people are not interested in “forgiving” folks, and that’s their prerogative.
Vince
Usually an apology comes before forgiveness though.
I think it’s sad that she’s defending him right after he told everyone to go f*ck themselves and then doubled down with a shirt that said AIDS while laughing about it. He’s dug his hole. I say time to bury him.
Donston
He said what he said. It’s fine if someone wants to “educate” and is about “forgiveness”. But he hasn’t even shown any real regret and remorse. He very much meant what he said and that’s fine. And this is just the latest ill-conceived, insecure thing he’s said. He has been very much driven by insecurities, ego and trying to be a reflection of what a “hood straight black male” is supposed to be. While I’m tired of using toxic masculinity or “he grew up in the hood” as an excuse. There are many “straight” black males who grew up in the hood who wouldn’t dare say something like that, perhaps most wouldn’t. While you think Dababy hasn’t worked with/grown up with male “queers”? He knows better, and he knew exactly what he was doing. And once again, Miley’s statement has almost no value to it because it’s coming from a privileged, white, female presenting bio woman who has only indulged hetero commitments. “Check your DMs”. It almost sounds like she’s looking for a date. Her being “queer” doesn’t have much weight considering the target of his rant and that probably one-third of the population is probably in the “queer spectrum”.
I’m not really caught up in trying to “cancel” people, but there are consequences for what you do and say, especially when you show no real contrition. And if no famous overtly “queer” black males are caping up for him then it’s best for her to sit there and eat her food.
Fahd
She can do what she wants – sounds like there might be a publicist or agent in common somewhere in all of this, especially as she appeared on that not funny Hart guy’s show.
There’s a lot of talent around looking for opportunities and sponsorship. I wouldn’t give anyone who doubled down the way he did and is only backing off some because the money’s disappearing another chance in the short term. Can’t fix (in real life) stupid. [For me that goes for those who defended his homophobia too]
What’s that expression, enough is enough, or bye felicia…something like that.
Where is that place that Isaiah Washington and Antonio Zapato, whatever his name is, have gone? oh yes, oblivion.
Kangol2
Miley can take whatever stance and approach she feels appropriate but I’d love to see one of the out queer or bi Black/Blatina women in hip hop address DaBaby’s comments and those of his defenders, like T.I. What do Queen Latifah, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B., DaBrat, Young M. A. and others think about his homophobia, anti-PWA rant, and misogyny? What about out gay/bi/bi-friendly male hip hop artists like Frank Ocean, Tyler the Creator, and Jayden Smith?
I thought it was telling that Chris Brown, a known abuser, did criticize DaBaby, if somewhat obliquely, when he said, “Shut the f*** up. Do yo shows, thank everybody, then get the f*** off stage!!!!!!!!!!” Miley wants to educate DaBaby, who could certainly use it, but a educative chat with the likes of Nicki or Cardi B, as well as Frank Ocean and Tyler might help too.
Donston
Nicki has never embraced being seen as “queer” and especially doesn’t now.
The fact that most overtly “queer” black celebs keep quiet when this type of stuff pops off is somewhat disheartening. I’m especially irritated by Frank Ocean who wants to get paid for promoting bareback parties at clubs but stays on silent at all other times. It feels like both Tyler and Frank are still too busy dealing with their own traumas, confusions, resentments, internalized phobias and insecurities to truly speak up about shit like this. While there’s still a fear of putting your feet in the fire and being seen as a “sellout” for going against popular “straight” black males. It’s some backwards and tired shit.
Kangol2
Uh, in 2010 Nicki Minaj sure did talk about being a bisexual rapper and finding girls cute. She later revised that and backtracked, but she did openly embrace it at one point. I remember how excited people were.
Donston
That was a decade ago. She never really embraced “bi” then and she has actively said that she’s “straight”/hetero since then.
I’m not really sure what the purpose of even bringing up Nicki and Cardi, as if they can speak for “queer” black males (who his rant was targeting). Women can’t speak for the queer male experience but especially not women who are in hetero marriages and never been known to be in anything but hetero relationships and who hasn’t really caped up for “queers” and never overtly considered themselves “queer”. We’re talking about women who have mostly exploited “lesbian shit” for sex appeal and buzz. Otherwise, they have not had shit to say unless they’ve pressed in an interview.
Only overtly, unapologetically “queer” black males should be trying to “educate” Dababy. The rest can give their opinions, but their perspective is not gonna have nearly as much weight. While I’m kinda doubting Nicki or Cardi give too much shits about Dababy’s comments. Oddly enough, Azealia Banks’ comments were mostly on target (though she doesn’t have anything to lose).
Kangol2
DaBaby’s original comments also were sexist, or did you miss that part. Queer women most certainly can and often do speak to cis het (including DL) men about their sexism, homophobia, transphobia, etc. DaBaby’s ignorance clearly encompasses more than homophobia, though. I didn’t mention Azealia because she is like a live wire and you never know what might come out of her mouth, true or false, though she did offer a good response to DaBaby’s comments.
Donston
Miley’s statement is focused entirely on the male homophobic shit not the direct and indirect misogyny he’s indulged over the months. While Miley herself has made some messy ass statements over the years. She still hasn’t apologized for claiming all “gays” who like Mariah Carey are shallow. Never mind some of the other silly shit she’s said, especially regarding race. I’m not sure she has the intellect or communication abilities to get through to someone like Dababy. And you really think he cares what Hannah Montana thinks?
It’s not anyone’s job to “save” Dababy or teach him. But I’m sure other celebs have reached out to him. She wanted to make her intentions public simply to criticize “cancel culture”. That was the only real reason she did that. Furthermore, I do find it offensive that she’s trying to speak for “queers”. You’re a white cis woman who have only had hetero commitments. You were not the target of those particular comments. She could have expressed her disappointment or her desire for him to learn without acting as if she can speak for anyone. That statement was arrogant and lacked of self-awareness.
Jack
She’s taking the high road and I think more people need to do that. But NOT with this bigot. He’s not an artist to his handlers. He’s a paycheck for a lot of people who are in damage control mode. He went too far, showed ZERO remorse and now he’s suffering the consequences. Frankly he’s not intelligent enough to have written that fake apology in the first place.
Hussain-TheCanadian
I have two questions:
Q1) If he’s sorry and seeks education and forgiveness, shouldn’t he reach out to a member of our community rather than someone pretending to speak on our behalf reaching out to him?
Q2) Miley is a member of the LGBT community??
skeldare
Miley seems to only be a member of the LGBT community when it’s convenient for her.
SDR94103
let’s put dabitch’s career to an end.
Seth
She can shovel his shit elsewhere. He said what he said and he meant it. The days of giving equal consideration to the boot heel and the throat crushed beneath it are long past, but the boot heel thanks her for her service.
jaleoman
I am very disappointed with Miley Cirus that pice of garbage is nothing but homophobic full of hate. He is disgusting and for Miley that is not even LGBT herself to come on his defense is a big turn off to me.
ScottOnEarth
F. U., Miley. That dummy’s comments were directed only at gay men, so this isn’t your battle to solve. She jumps on any bandwagon that will give her some attention.
whateverokok
i don’t like the woman at all and find her music really bad. However, she has made some odd career moves in the last couple of months that has made me take another look. And she is SPOT ON about Mariah Carey and gays. Mariah’s early, early music is actually QUITE good. The rest is a trainwreck. Anyone listening and loving her current (1999 to now) phase are pretty shallow.
That being said, Miley hit that nail and she’s hit this one too. Sure, Dababby said some horrible shit and goofed like no other. Did he mean it too? More than likely he meant it and then some. Is he scum? I would not go that far. I do believe though that everyone deserves at least one chance at redemption. No matter what, within reason.
If hitler saw the error of his ways before he did any of his atrocities and turned over a whole new leaf, he should get a chance at redemption. But he didn’t, so he doesn’t. Dababby is not Hitler though. Point being love will be the thing that changes and makes a difference. Cancel cancel and hate will not. You cannot fight hate with hate. Otherwise, you are no worse than the person you are hating on.
Vince
Why are you so damn eager to forgive him? I don’t consider equating gay men to AIDS and will die soon as just a goof. That is just simple ignorance and hate. Redemption should only be reserved for those that seek it and yes he is scum. Oh and your Hitler example is ridiculous.
I’d boycott him but I would never buy his trash in the first place. However, any business that supports him is another story.
jsmu
Dabitch and Hannah Montana: a talent-free couple for the ages!