The already iconic rivalry between Kendrick Lamar and Drake took an unexpected turn at the 2025 Oscars, when host Conan O’Brien took a jab at the two rappers’ ongoing feud, sending shockwaves through Hollywood’s biggest night. The moment came during a playful monologue that referenced Kendrick Lamar’s famous diss track Not Like Us and Drake’s defamation lawsuit, intertwining the world of hip hop with the glitz and glamour of the Oscars.
As the cameras rolled inside the Dolby Theatre, O’Brien couldn’t resist weaving in a remark about Lamar’s controversial Super Bowl performance and the public battle that has captivated fans and industry insiders alike. “Well, we’re halfway through the show, which means it’s time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile,” O’Brien quipped, triggering laughter and applause from the star-studded audience.
The reference was not only to Lamar’s Not Like Us accusations, which had been a topic of intense media buzz, but also to Drake’s ongoing legal troubles, with the 6 God suing Universal Music Group (UMG) for allegedly helping spread defamatory content across the airwaves. “Don’t worry, I’m lawyered up,” O’Brien continued, adding fuel to the already burning feud that has seen the two rap titans clash both on and off stage.
Skyler Higley, the writer behind the controversial joke, later shared his excitement on social media. “Wrote the Kendrick Lamar joke and bet our executive producer $50 that it would kill. just made $50,” he posted, further reflecting on the Oscars moment that had everyone talking. Higley also thanked the Academy and Standards & Practices (S&P) for allowing the joke to air without cutting it, despite its edgy nature. In the aftermath of the quip, both Lamar and Drake have remained silent, leaving fans and critics alike to speculate about their reactions to the viral moment.
The Legal Saga Between Kendrick Lamar and Drake Intensifies
While the Oscars moment may have brought their feud into the mainstream spotlight, the drama between Kendrick Lamar and Drake extends far beyond the glitzy red carpet. The two rap stars are embroiled in a high-stakes legal battle, with Drake accusing UMG and iHeartMedia of amplifying Lamar’s defamatory track Not Like Us across major radio networks. This lawsuit has fueled the ongoing tension between the two artists, and the case has now moved into a courtroom drama.
In the latest development, Drake’s legal team is pushing back against the delay of discovery in the defamation case. Their argument is that Lamar’s Super Bowl performance—where Not Like Us was prominently featured—only exacerbates the damage already caused by the defamatory song. According to Drake’s attorneys, continuing to delay the discovery process would be prejudicial to Drake, who is facing widespread fallout from the public release of the track. With over 133.5 million viewers watching the Super Bowl halftime show, the track’s continued exposure is a key point in Drake’s legal argument.
“Delaying discovery would unfairly prejudice [Drake], who is continuing to suffer the consequences of UMG’s defamatory campaign,” his legal team wrote in a letter to Judge Antonio Vargas. “Indeed, at the same time UMG has been delaying here, UMG launched new campaigns to further spread the defamatory content, including at the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show.” The letter sheds light on the legal strategy behind the defamation suit, with Drake’s team seeking to ensure that Lamar’s song doesn’t continue to gain traction while the legal battle is ongoing.
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Nod to Drake’s Legal Trouble
Amid all the courtroom drama, Kendrick Lamar remains largely untouched by the lawsuit. However, during his much-anticipated Super Bowl halftime performance, the rapper made a subtle nod to Drake’s ongoing legal troubles. As Lamar prepared to perform Not Like Us, he sparred playfully with his dancers, saying, “I want to give them their favorite song, but you know they love to sue.” The remark, delivered with the swagger of a man who knows he holds the upper hand, sent fans into a frenzy as it hinted at Lamar’s awareness of the legal storm brewing in the background.
