I jumped at the opportunity to see one half of the group, City Girls, Young Miami, perform live at the summer 2019 Essence Fest. Not once was I worried that she’d physically assault me because my phone snapped a picture of her. I also wasn’t worried about leaving the concert with a contusion because she lost her temper in a child-like way; not once. If only DaBaby fans could say the same.
Tyronesha Laws probably didn’t have these fears when she attended DaBaby’s Tampa show, but a quick interaction with the artist made them a reality. On Saturday March 7, while on his way to the stage, DaBaby allegedly brutally slapped Laws, causing her to hurl backwards in pain. The reason? According to TMZ, someone decided to flash their phone in front of his face as he was walking by. After the incident, DaBaby followed up with a $10,000 offer to anyone willing to provide footage of him being hit in the eye by the cell phone. The Charlotte rapper then issued an “apology” stating that while he’s remorseful that a woman was on the receiving end of his battery, he would’ve responded the same had it been a man or a woman.
Laws, who claimed she did not flash the phone, responded by saying she believed the apology was insincere. She was also mortified to learn that DaBaby and comedian Michael Blackson made the incident into a farce that was posted then deleted from DaBaby’s Instagram account.
YouTube | Michael Blackson
In the spirit of radical transparency, I don’t believe DaBaby was being sincere in his apology. Offering up a measly $10,000 to anyone who had footage of him being hit in the face, sends a dangerous message. It screams “I was completely justified in attacking this concert goer because I felt that she hit me.” Honestly, DaBaby didn’t make the situation any better by stating that, whether it was a man or a woman, he still would’ve reacted the same. That statement, in itself, lets me know that he isn’t sorry at all for hitting this woman — he’s just sorry it got recorded. Lately, prolonged public explanations seem to be his trending response to the controversies he’s found himself in.
DaBaby kicked off the new decade by kicking ass. On January 2, he was arrested for allegedly robbing a concert promoter and dousing the man with apple juice. A few weeks after, on January 18, footage of the rapper’s physical altercation with a hotel employee hit the internet. Now, I’m not asking whether or not he was wrong (or guilty) in these situations, but there is one question I feel compelled to ask; could DaBaby be da problem?
All of these incidents involved some degree of physical altercation with two of them resulting in DaBaby justifying the behaviors. The justifications, while connected to different events, center on his personal space being violated. I have no idea what it’s like to be a celebrity, but I’d imagine it largely includes overzealous fans wanting to snap photos and videos at all times. Is that a crime? No. Is physically assaulting them because of it, the right solution? Of course not. When the celebrities we idolize commit such heinous acts, how do we hold them accountable? What would that look like?
In this case, if I were a part of DaBaby’s fan base, I’d advocate for him to seek anger management — if he hasn’t already. It’s not enough to pressure our idols to constantly release content that speaks to our souls, we need to encourage them to hold themselves accountable as well. If we claim to love, respect and sometimes worship them, we should encourage our favs to prioritize wellness — both mental and physical.
As good as DaBaby’s music is, his behavior has been problematic to say the least. It’s no secret that DaBaby is a profound lyricist who gives high-energy performances along with a laundry list of dope features. He’s also a proponent of consensual touching, which might be one of his dopest qualities ever. I’m hoping that he continues to thrive and pave the way for musicians behind him, but his persistence in involving himself with these controversial incidents could end his career before it even takes off.
