DaBaby is slated to perform at the 2022 Rolling Loud Miami festival one year after the rapper was widely rebuked for making a series of hateful, homophobic remarks from the main stage during his 2021 set. His slot on the final day of the three-day (July 22-24) event was announced alongside with the rest of the lineup, which is slated to include a headlining set from Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) on the first day — along with Playboi Carti, Lil Durk, Don Toliver and 2 Chainz — and a second day topped by Future, who will share the stage with Lil Uzi Vert, Gunna, Gucci Mane, Lil TJay and many more.
The July 24 roster will feature a rare headlining set from Kendrick Lamar, who in addition to DaBaby, will rock alongside Kodak Black, Baby Keem, Trippie Redd, Moneybagg Yo, A$AP Ferg and Flo Milli, among others.
During his set at Rolling Loud in July 2021, DaBaby came under fire for homophobic comments he made during his set. “[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 a cellphone light in the air,” he said. “Ladies, if your p—y smell like water, put a cellphone light in the air. Fellas, if you ain’t sucking d–k in the parking lot, put a cellphone light in the air.”
After the comments sparked backlash online, DaBaby later tried to justify his comments at the festival by saying that gay fans of his do not have HIV/AIDS because they are not “nasty gay n—as or junkies.” Following the incident, several festivals removed him from their lineups, including Lollapalooza, Governors Ball, Parklife Festival, Day N Vegas, Austin City Limits, Music Midtown and the iHeartRadio Music Festival. He later deleted an online apology and met with HIV advocacy groups and LGBTQ organizations in what he claimed was an attempt to understand the harmful impact of his hate-filled statements.
A spokesperson for Rolling Loud Miami had not returned requests for comment on DaBaby’s booking at press time; in late 2021, Rolling Loud backed a U.S. tour by the 30-year-old North Carolina-bred rapper (born Jonathan Kirk), Live Show Killa, which is slated to keep him on the road through a June 26 date in the Netherlands.
More recently, the rapper and his crew were filmed getting into an altercation with Brandon Curiel — the brother of the rapper’s ex-girlfriend DaniLeigh, with whom he shares a child — at a San Fernando Valley bowling alley called Corbin Bowl in February 2022. Video of the incident shows DaBaby and Curiel swinging at each other, slipping onto the bowling lanes, and other members of the rapper’s crew jumping in to fight.
Curiel filed a lawsuit following the incident that DaBaby is legally liable for physically assaulting him “suddenly and without warning” as he walked by the rapper. He also claims that the incident has caused him “severe injury and pain” and left him “psychologically damaged,” though DaBaby has publicly stated he was protecting himself as a means of self-defense.
Among the other acts slated to perform at Hard Rock Stadium for Rolling Loud 2022 are: Lil Yachty, Three 6 Mafia, Saweetie, Fivio Foreign, Kevin Gates, City Girls, Soulja Boy, Curren$y and Tyla Yaweh, among others.
PETA has called on Cage The Elephant to temporarily change their name ahead of their upcoming NFL halftime performance in Munich later this week.
The band are scheduled to perform during the New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions game this Sunday (November 15).
Ahead of the show, PETA has asked Cage The Elephant to change their name across their social media accounts to Free The Elephant for one week.
According to a press release from the animal rights group, an elephant named Okha “has spent most of her life forced to perform in the circus under the threat of punishment”. The organisation is now seeking support to “help retire her to a reputable sanctuary”.
PETA also alleges that Okha is “currently being hauled around in a trailer with an exhibitor, Brian Franzen”, who supposedly “has a history of felony cruelty to animals charges” and “was caught on camera yanking and striking an elephant with a bullhook”.
In a letter addressed to Cage The Elephant, PETA wrote: “There ain’t no rest for Okha. We think you’d agree that she deserves the chance to spend her remaining years in peace with care, dignity, and respect.
“Lending a rendition of your iconic name for a short while could… help us come a little closer to ending animal cruelty in circuses.”
PETA added that it has already held more than “30 demonstrations on Okha’s behalf, contacted venues hosting animal acts, and rallied tens of thousands of supporters to call for her retirement”.
The group is also asking the public to “call on venues to stop hosting circuses that use animals and help retire Okha to a reputable sanctuary where she could roam expansive habitats, forage, receive expert veterinary care, and have the companionship of other elephants”.
Cage The Elephant have not yet made a public statement about the request, and NME has reached out to the band for a response. Franzen has also not issued a public response to the allegations made by PETA.
The request follows a previous approach by PETA to Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, asking him to temporarily adopt the name ‘Robert Plant Wool’ to help promote alternatives to sheep’s wool.
PETA has also previously urged Nintendo to redesign the popular Mario Kart World character Cow, claiming that its current appearance encourages animal cruelty.
Meanwhile, Cage The Elephant recently revealed details of their upcoming album ‘Dying In Reverse’, which is set to arrive on February 5, 2027, through Big Loud Rock. Fans can pre-order the record here.
The band are also preparing for a UK and European tour in 2027. You can check out the full list of dates here and find any remaining tickets here.
