DaBaby appeared to assault a woman on his way to the stage at an afterparty at the Tampa, Florida venue Whiskey North, TMZ reports. As video of the incident circulated online last night, DaBaby shared Instagram stories alleging that the woman struck him in the eye with her phone before he struck her back.
This morning in a series of Instagram stories, he issued an apology and explained that he couldn’t see who was on the other side of the phone due to the phone’s flash. “I do sincerely apologize,” he said. “I do. I’m very sorry that there was a female on the other end of that flashlight on their phone.” He continued:
But you know, keep in mind, I couldn’t see you because you got the
flash this close to me. Which is OK, it’s no problem. … But
fans—how many people know how to zoom in? Just zoom in instead of
popping me in the motherfuckin’ eye with the phone. But I do apologize
that there was a female on the other end.
“I think by this time, you know it’s a well known fact that male or female, I would’ve responded the same exact way,” he said. After noting that security was moving him through the crowd in an effort to “respect” the fans in the room, he said, “I just wish you would’ve gave me the same respect in return. … Why you do that? I apologize for the way it went.” He then invited to fly the person in question for a private conversation and apology.
Pitchfork has reached out to DaBaby’s representatives and Whiskey North.