Diplo jumped onboard with public health officials Monday (March 16) in an Instagram post encouraging social distancing. The producer wrote that he’s staying away from the Los Angeles house where his two sons, Lockett, 9, and Lazer, 5, live with their grandmother, given that he’s been in contact with hundreds of people over the last four weeks and that the elderly are more susceptible to coronavirus. He plans to self-quarantine from his kids until he’s certain he doesn’t have the virus.
“This hurts because I miss them so much they are what makes me wake up every day and live and breath, they are my ultimate joy,” Diplo writes, “but this is my sacrifice to make sure everyone around me is safe.”
The post also encourages fans to “think about others in every decision you make in the coming weeks. This isn’t a drill. We already have enough news from Italy Iran Korea and China about the best ways to slow this.. We need to be smart, going out and interacting with groups is canceled, but kindess is not canceled, love is not canceled, empathy is not canceled. Happiness is not canceled… Stay strong for the ones who can’t right now.”
Diplo is the cover star of the latest issue of Billboard, in which he discusses his status as one of the busiest artists in the music business. His typically hectic tour schedule has come to a halt due to the worldwide pandemic, but Diplo hasn’t stopped the music, announcing that he’ll perform nightly live streams on YouTube amid social distancing and worldwide quarantines.
The first of these live streams featured Diplo performing from his candlelit living room alongside Rhye on Saturday night, with Diplo and the Major Lazer dancers performing live online on Sunday. Watch the Saturday performance and see Diplo’s complete Instagram post below.
