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How DaBaby Destroyed His Reputation

This video explores how DaBaby damaged his reputation through controversies including dissing JoJo Siwa and insensitive Rolling Loud comments.

Key Takeaways

  • Targeting a child YouTuber was a major misstep that alienated many fans.
  • Responding to criticism publicly can damage an artist's perceived authenticity.
  • Insensitive remarks about marginalized groups lead to widespread backlash and celebrity condemnation.
  • Apologies may be strategic rather than fully genuine in celebrity controversies.
  • Authenticity is important but can be undermined by repeated public controversies.

What the video covers

  • DaBaby initially turned his audience against him by dissing kids YouTuber JoJo Siwa in a song, which sparked widespread backlash.
  • The diss was seen as out of line since JoJo Siwa is a child and much younger, richer, and taller than DaBaby.
  • DaBaby responded on Twitter to clarify his wordplay and expressed love for JoJo Siwa, but this response revealed his sensitivity to criticism.
  • He had built a hardcore gangster rapper image, making his Twitter justifications seem inauthentic to many fans.
  • DaBaby claimed he was not caught up in internet drama but admitted he might adjust his opinions if criticism affected his money.
  • Four months later, DaBaby caused another controversy at Rolling Loud by implying people with HIV were unwelcome at his shows.
  • His comments were widely condemned by celebrities and the public, escalating the backlash.
  • DaBaby issued a public statement defending his live show behavior but later apologized to the LGBTQ+ community after further criticism.
  • He admitted he did not fully agree with his apology but accepted it as necessary.
  • DaBaby emphasized authenticity as key to his success, despite the controversies damaging his public image.

Answers

Questions about this video

Why did DaBaby's diss of JoJo Siwa cause backlash?

DaBaby targeted JoJo Siwa, a child YouTuber much younger and richer than him, which many saw as inappropriate and out of line.

How did DaBaby respond to the criticism about JoJo Siwa?

He took to Twitter to clarify his wordplay and expressed that he had no problem with JoJo Siwa, but this response showed he was sensitive to criticism.

What was the Rolling Loud controversy involving DaBaby?

DaBaby implied on stage that people with HIV were unwelcome at his shows, which led to widespread condemnation and celebrity backlash.

Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown

00:00
Speaker A
The Baby has slowly become the internet's most hated rapper. What did he do to earn this title? Well, his actions range from insulting fans to getting angry at flight attendants. However, the very first thing that began to turn The Baby's audience against him was the time he'd get into a beef with kids YouTuber JoJo Siwa.
00:12
Speaker A
baby's audience against him was the time he'd get into a beef with kids YouTuber JoJo siwa the argument began after the baby would post a song titled beatbox freestyle in which he'd hold up a photo of Jojo siwa and call her a bunch of
00:24
Speaker A
The argument began after The Baby posted a song titled "Beatbox Freestyle," in which he'd hold up a photo of JoJo Siwa and call her a bunch of nasty names. The snippet was instantly shared to Twitter, where it gained over a million views and 42,000 likes on a post reading, "What TF did JoJo Siwa do that made The Baby mad like that?"
00:36
Speaker A
over a heightened security most will simply baffled that debated would Target a kid's YouTuber she's literally a child kinda out of line to be honest yo that is funny AF he really came for a whole kid which accompanied a post by James
00:48
Speaker A
While some joked about The Baby calling her out over heightened security, most were simply baffled that The Baby would target a kids YouTuber. "She's literally a child. Kinda out of line, to be honest." "Yo, that is funny AF. He really came for a whole kid," which accompanied a post by James Charles reading, "Can someone please explain why The Baby is dissing JoJo Siwa when she's 12 years younger, 10 times richer, and 2 inches taller than him?"
01:01
Speaker A
of the responses were supportive such as I don't think he meant nothing of it probably just needed something to say and the others were simply surprised that the baby went there which is literally how the baby described his own
01:11
Speaker A
Now, The Baby had absolutely no business responding to these comments, as they weren't really criticism. A lot of the responses were supportive, such as, "I don't think he meant nothing of it. Probably just needed something to say," and the others were simply surprised that The Baby went there, which is literally how The Baby described his own branding. "I'm gonna say I can't believe he said it."
01:22
Speaker A
music that ain't what I do it'd still take to Twitter to squash the drama in a post reading at its JoJo siwa my three-year-old princess is your number one fan I bought her every product you have out she thinks she you don't let
01:34
Speaker A
However, despite also stating that he wasn't the type of guy to respond to things online, "When you see it outside of music and I'm expected to respond and clear it up without using music, that ain't what I do," he'd still take to Twitter to squash the drama in a post reading, "At it's JoJo Siwa, my three-year-old princess is your number one fan. I bought her every product you have out. She thinks she— you don't let him trick you into thinking I'd ever have a problem with you. My wordplay just went over their heads. All love on my end. Shorty, keep shining."
01:45
Speaker A
first place all they did was show everyone that he was paying attention to the drama and was unable to stay silent if he was criticized too heavily in the lead up to this tweet the baby had established a reputation as a kind of
01:55
Speaker A
Now, The Baby's response was actually pretty decent, but since he never needed to respond in the first place, all they did was show everyone that he was paying attention to the drama and was unable to stay silent if he was criticized too heavily.
02:06
Speaker A
of the internet drama I'm just doing me like I'm not even really caught up in what I got going on yet in a different interview he contradicts this by stating that he's willing to change his opinions if the internet criticism becomes too
02:17
Speaker A
In the lead-up to this tweet, The Baby had established a reputation as a kind of hardcore gangster rapper, and to be on Twitter justifying where you made a diss on a kids YouTuber felt kind of inauthentic to his image. The Baby stated in an interview that he's doing his own thing and is not really caught up in any of the internet drama. "I'm just doing me. Like, I'm not even really caught up in what I got going on."
02:27
Speaker A
need to take that you know make some adjustments well this is certainly a more mature approach maturity is rarely what people are looking for in music and entertainment I could be wrong about this but it often feels as though the
02:37
Speaker A
Yet, in a different interview, he contradicts this by stating that he's willing to change his opinions if the internet criticism becomes too harsh. "It is about how much you value others' opinions on the internet or just, you know, people's opinion around you. I don't value it until they get to messing with my money, you know what I'm saying? Okay, cool. You know, now you probably need to take that, you know, make some adjustments."
02:48
Speaker A
criticism on Twitter this point Fades perfectly into his response to the rolling loud controversy which happened only four months after the incident with JoJo siwa whilst on stage the baby would imply that people with HIV weren't welcome at shows and since the event was
03:02
Speaker A
Well, this is certainly a more mature approach. Maturity is rarely what people are looking for in music and entertainment. I could be wrong about this, but it often feels as though the personality of the person making the music is just as important as the music itself. And when it comes to hardcore rap, people want to follow the completely unapologetic gangster as opposed to the person who's known for responding to criticism on Twitter.
03:14
Speaker A
clarify his position with a public statement I'm addressed this one time I'ma get back to giving my love to my fans that's what I'm saying because with me and my fans do at the live show it don't concern you it's not your business
03:26
Speaker A
This point fades perfectly into his response to the Rolling Loud controversy, which happened only four months after the incident with JoJo Siwa. Whilst on stage, The Baby would imply that people with HIV weren't welcome at shows, and since the event was being streamed online, the internet began to discuss the comments immediately.
03:38
Speaker A
more people discovering what he had said and surely thereafter celebrities such as Elton John Madonna and Dua Lipa were stating on Instagram that they were surprised and horrified at the baby's comments the baby stated that he wasn't worried at any point during the rolling
03:51
Speaker A
Now, as mentioned in other videos, if The Baby had simply stayed silent on the criticism, the problem would have disappeared. However, just like the JoJo Siwa controversy, he felt the need to clarify his position with a public statement. "I'm addressed this one time. I'ma get back to giving my love to my fans. That's what I'm saying, because with me and my fans do at the live show, it don't concern you. It's not your business. What I do at a live show is for the audience at the live show. It'll never translate correctly to somebody looking at a little five, six second clip on their phone. It just don't work like that."
04:01
Speaker A
wouldn't feel the need to take to Twitter and apologize which is what he would do after the Instagram live stream I want to apologize to the lgbtq plus Community for the hurtful and triggering comments I made again I apologize for my
04:13
Speaker A
This Instagram live stream only led to more people discovering what he had said, and surely thereafter celebrities such as Elton John, Madonna, and Dua Lipa were stating on Instagram that they were surprised and horrified at The Baby's comments.
04:25
Speaker A
I don't agree with it you feel me like you know if if this the example got to be made of this what God want me to go through him for whatever reason let's do it I'm with and then he only put it out
04:33
Speaker A
The Baby stated that he wasn't worried at any point during the Rolling Loud controversy. "Were you kind of scared, like how everyone was like [expletive] like that?" "No, I wasn't scared. That was probably my problem."
04:43
Speaker A
to Charlemagne who wrote a book on how living an authentic life is the quickest part to success which is something that the baby himself highlighted as the reason behind why he's being so successful What Makes You Different I'm saying like I'm just me yeah going
04:56
Speaker A
However, this is a complete contradiction to his actions because if he wasn't scared, he wouldn't feel the need to take to Twitter and apologize, which is what he would do after the Instagram live stream. "I want to apologize to the LGBTQ plus community for the hurtful and triggering comments I made. Again, I apologize for my misinformed comments about HIV slash AIDS, and I know education on this is important."
05:07
Speaker A
all these sacrifices get there just to be controlled like a puppet you know what I'm saying like that ain't hard get out now it didn't seem like the baby actually had any problems with the people he called out anybody from the
05:17
Speaker A
Going back to the problem of authenticity, The Baby would go on to state that he didn't even agree with his own apology. "Even though, you know, I don't—I don't agree with it, you feel me? Like, you know, if this the example got to be made of this, what God want me to go through him for whatever reason, let's do it. I'm with it."
05:29
Speaker A
however because he blew the whole thing up with a bunch of his own social media attention the brands he was working with began to drop him one by one fashion brand boohoo publicly ended their relationship with him Lola palooza
05:40
Speaker A
And then he only put it out because at a certain level you have to move in a different way. "You'll get the certain levels in it. You know, you got to make adjustments, you know what I'm saying, and move a certain way. It's simple."
05:52
Speaker A
lineup UK Event Park life cut him from the roster though the rapper's team claims that the decision was made months before rolling loud the team behind day night Vegas replaced his at least with that of Roddy Rich even the working
06:02
Speaker A
Ironically, he's talking to Charlemagne, who wrote a book on how living an authentic life is the quickest path to success, which is something that The Baby himself highlighted as the reason behind why he's being so successful. "What makes you different?" "I'm saying, like, I'm just me."
06:14
Speaker A
own meal at Burger King a lot of people don't know that it was called the Jonathan curtainville they want to use my name I shot a commercial for it and everything they had my name on the box everything no no no that's when all the
06:23
Speaker A
Going back on his own statements and posting insincere apologies was the opposite of being his authentic brutal rapper image as a rapper, somebody who can speak freely. "And I'm not one to do all that hard work day in, day out, make all these sacrifices, get there just to be controlled like a puppet, you know what I'm saying? Like, that ain't hard. Get out now."
06:33
Speaker A
is a go ahead go you know God ain't want me to have a plane hold on yeah just chill and while the baby clearly took the loss in a very respectable manner this seemingly did little to repair his
06:42
Speaker A
It didn't seem like The Baby actually had any problems with the people he called out, anybody from the LGBTQ community or any of that. "But I am not tripping on you. I ain't never had an issue with none of y'all. It wasn't directed to no group of people in particular or nothing like that. Like, it really ain't that deep at all to me."
06:56
Speaker A
time where he'd attack a fan at a club for putting a flashlight in his face resulting in another apology video I do sincerely apologize keep in mind I couldn't see you accompanying another bizarre clip of him being rejected
07:08
Speaker A
However, because he blew the whole thing up with a bunch of his own social media attention, the brands he was working with began to drop him one by one. Fashion brand Boohoo publicly ended their relationship with him. Lollapalooza dropped him from the lineup on the very last day of the festival, citing their founding values of diversity, inclusivity, respect, and love.
07:19
Speaker A
what seemed to be a satirical tweet stating that he was voting for Kanye which warranted responses such as waste I can't believe you're even promoting this baby you got too big of a platform to be tweeting this nonsense bruh you're
07:30
Speaker A
The Governors Ball Music Festival, set to take place in September, announced that The Baby would not be performing as part of their lineup. UK event Parklife cut him from the roster, though the rapper's team claims that the decision was made months before Rolling Loud. The team behind Day N Night Vegas replaced his slot with that of Roddy Ricch.
07:47
Speaker A
baby believes that social media can become a negative thing once you reach a certain size but at some point I think like it may be safer for you not to use it as much because you can become Overexposed but the real question is how
07:59
Speaker A
Even the Working Families Party quickly removed him from the list of celebrity performers, and on the Full Send podcast, The Baby explained that he was set to release his own meal at Burger King, which was also canceled as a result of the controversy. "I have my own meal at Burger King. A lot of people don't know that. It was called the Jonathan Curtainville. They want to use my name. I shot a commercial for it and everything. They had my name on the box, everything."
08:15
Speaker A
first week the music video for one of the songs on his new album titled Boogeyman features five different people one of which being an obviously gay person and throughout the video everyone is killed besides the gay guy before the
08:25
Speaker A
baby daps him up at the end says I ain't got a problem with you and once again apologizes for the rolling loud comments the whole thing just feels extremely performative and insincere with this clear attempt at avoiding controversy
08:36
Speaker A
only resulting in more controversy because alongside his new album's poor release the baby announced that he had to cancel one of his shows after selling only 500 tickets to a venue which seeded fourteen thousand going to a baby
08:48
Speaker A
concert because I need some alone time and I know no one else will be there if I put all my followers in a room and sang a little song to them then I'd have a more successful concert than the baby
08:56
Speaker A
the baby concert was lit however to the baby's credit he's taking his setbacks quite humbly having replied to his lower album sales by stating not bad for the Blackboard baby there are a lot of people who have covered in the past that
09:08
Speaker A
are clearly deserving of their poor reputations but you could argue that the baby isn't really one of them he's a hard worker with a library of incredibly well made music yet he's been unable to keep his mouth closed on controversial
09:18
Speaker A
topics which only compounds when you compromise your integrity and change your personality to suit whatever the audience wants you to be
Topics:DaBabyJoJo SiwaRolling Loud controversyrapper reputationinternet backlashcelebrity apologyLGBTQ+ controversymusic industry dramaauthenticity in rapsocial media response

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