News | Entertainment
17 Feb 2026 0:34
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Sir Elton John is “shocked” by DaBaby’s homophobic comments at Rolling Loud

    The 'Suge' hitmaker was criticised for the comments he made about sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and AIDS, during his set at the festival over the weekend


    And now, openly gay music legend Elton has spoken out to condemn DaBaby’s comments, as he said “mistruths” about HIV have “no place in our society”.

    Elton’s personal Twitter account posted: “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.

    “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.”

    The ‘Tiny Dancer’ singer – who founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation in

    1992 with the mission of ending the AIDS pandemic – went on to share three separate tweets detailing facts about HIV which debunked comments made by DaBaby.

    The tweets read: “HIV has affected over 70 million people globally: men, women, children and the most vulnerable people in our communities.

    “In America, a gay black man has a 50 perfect lifetime chance of contracting HIV. Stigma and shame around HIV and homosexuality is a huge driver of this vulnerability. We need to break down the myths and judgements and not fuel these.

    “You can live a long and healthy life with HIV. Treatment is so advanced that with one pill a day, HIV can become undetectable in your body so you can’t pass it onto other people.”

    During his set, DaBaby - whose real name is Jonathan Kirk - made controversial remarks which referenced homophobia in relation to sexually transmitted diseases.

    He said: "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 cell phone lighter up… "Fellas, if you ain’t sucking d*** in the parking lot, put your cell phone lighter up.”

    DaBaby initially doubled down on his comments after the show, but ultimately chose to apologise on Twitter on Tuesday (27.07.21).

    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 “But the LGBT community... I ain’t trippin on y’all, do you. y’all business is y’all business. (sic)”

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     16 Feb: Steven Spielberg has donated $25,000 to help James Van Der Beek's family
     16 Feb: Michelle Obama got 10 new ear piercings in one sitting
     16 Feb: Margot Robbie has credited Rachel McAdams with helping her land all her major roles
     16 Feb: Daisy Lowe is pregnant with her second child
     16 Feb: Ashley Roberts wrongly announced Dick Van Dyke had died instead of James Van Der Beek
     16 Feb: Jesy Nelson's petition with Parliament, to demand all newborn babies born in the UK are tested for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), will receive a response from the UK government after it was signed more than 66,000 times
     16 Feb: The FBI has revealed "new identifying details" about a suspect in Nancy Guthrie's disappearance
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    A Super Rugby referee clanger in round one More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Now's the time to buy for those looking to get on the property ladder More...



     Today's News

    International:
    Former FBI agents say looking closer at Nancy Guthrie's social circle may be key to finding her 23:07

    Entertainment:
    Steven Spielberg has donated $25,000 to help James Van Der Beek's family 21:57

    Business:
    Now's the time to buy for those looking to get on the property ladder 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Michelle Obama got 10 new ear piercings in one sitting 21:27

    Environment:
    Weather warnings are set to fade away tonight 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Margot Robbie has credited Rachel McAdams with helping her land all her major roles 20:57

    Entertainment:
    Daisy Lowe is pregnant with her second child 20:27

    General:
    How cheating allegations have rocked the curling teams at the Olympics 20:17

    Entertainment:
    Ashley Roberts wrongly announced Dick Van Dyke had died instead of James Van Der Beek 19:57

    Entertainment:
    Jesy Nelson's petition with Parliament, to demand all newborn babies born in the UK are tested for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), will receive a response from the UK government after it was signed more than 66,000 times 19:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd