T.I. is the latest rapper to spout a homophobic slur after claiming rappers are being bullied by the gay community.
His comments follow DaBaby’s onstage rant at Rolling Loud festival in Miami, where the rapper said: “If you didn’t show up today with HIV, AIDS… put your cellphone light up. Ladies, if your pussy smell like water, put your cellphone light up. Fellas, if you ain’t sucking dick in the parking lot, put your cellphone light up.”
T.I. has now decided to defend DaBaby. Taking to Instagram Live, he said: “Everyone up in arms and upset about what DaBaby said. I understand people saying that they feel that it’s insensitive.
“I think you guys have to understand that on stage, that’s not the place that rappers go to be sensitive and soothe everybody’s feelings. It’s a place to go to have a good time.”
He then said everything that takes place within the context of a concert is “all done in fun.” T.I. continued, “If that is the case, why do words cause such a visceral reaction that will lead to someone trying to attack, villainize, demonize, crucify, condemn and like, it’s, that shit is like, now you bullying. We all stood up on behalf of gays and lesbians and people in the gay community because we thought it was some bullshit for y’all to have to be bullied.”
He added: “But I don’t think any of us did that to feel like you would now have the authority to come and bully us.”
T.I. has since faced an angry backlash from fans who are disappointed in his homophobia. However, just like DaBaby, he’s refusing to back down.