The social media star announced earlier this week that he and Bailey — who share a young son — split after two years of dating
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DDG is opening up about his breakup from Halle Bailey for the first time, days after he announced their split.
The 26-year-old rapper and social media star spoke candidly about how he felt his relationship with The Little Mermaid star, 24, impacted how people perceived him in the public eye following their breakup earlier this month.
“I personally think that people just personally pick on me,” the rapper (real name Darryl Dwayne Granberry Jr.) said during a Sunday, Oct. 6 episode of his No Ordinary Podcast. “That’s really what it is.”
He continued, “People specifically pick on me because for a long time, people feel like I didn’t belong in the industry or the music industry and this and that. That’s what I feel like, especially me being with Halle. She’s a superstar; she’s the greatest ever. Being around her, I feel like it made a lot of people side-eye me because they had already had… You know, she’s a princess, so they already had their mind set up about her and they look at me and I don’t fit that image.”
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The star maintained that all was “cool” though, because he knew there was “a reason why she stayed with me” and a “reason why we had a child together,” referring to their son Halo, 10 months.
“It’s a reason why all of this happened,” he said. “Me and Halle are forever family, forever.”
DDG also directly addressed his critics, suggesting that they might take Bailey’s side over his without considering how it might impact their family, especially the former couple’s son.
“I feel like people should keep that in their head when they talk about us. You’re talking about our family. You need to relax,” the podcaster said. “I feel like y’all don’t consider that at all. If I’m hurting, you know, that can be hurting my baby that you love so much.”
“I feel like a lot of people forget that,” he added.
DDG first announced the pair’s breakup in a statement shared to his Instagram Stories on Thursday, Oct. 3.
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“Dear friends and supporters, After much reflection and heartfelt conversations, Halle and I have decided to go our separate ways,” he wrote at the time. “The decision was not easy, but we believe it’s the best path forward for both of us. I cherish the time we’ve spent together and the love we shared.”
“Despite the changes in our relationship, our love for each other remains deep and true. We are still best friends and adore each other,” he continued.
After sparking dating rumors in January 2022, when they were spotted at Usher’s Las Vegas residency, DDG went public with their relationship when he wished Bailey a happy birthday in March 2022.
In November 2023, the pair sparked rumors of a pregnancy, and that December, they welcomed Halo.
“Even though we’re a few days into the new year, the greatest thing that 2023 could have done for me, was bring me my son..” Bailey wrote at the time, publicly announcing the birth of her and DDG’s son. “welcome to the world my halo 🥰👼🏽 ✨.”