DaBaby is opening up about the financial impact of his past controversy, revealing just how drastically his earnings changed.
“I went back down to like $30K,” he said in a recent interview, explaining how his performance fees dropped after backlash over his 2021 remarks. Before the incident, he said he was earning between $300,000 and $500,000 per show.
“I went and got that,” he added, making it clear he continued performing despite the steep decline.
The backlash followed comments he made onstage at Rolling Loud Miami, where he told the crowd, “If you didn’t show up today with HIV, AIDS… then put your cellphone lighter up,” along with additional remarks that drew widespread criticism.
At the time, DaBaby initially stood by his words. “My gay fans, they take care of themselves,” he said. “They ain’t no nasty gay n—as.”
He later issued an apology, but the backlash did not subside, given that he had initially doubled down. The rapper lost festival bookings, brand deals, and industry support, with several artists publicly condemning his statements.