{"id":116460,"date":"2025-04-25T07:03:48","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T15:03:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/04\/25\/drake-adds-kendricks-superbowl-performance-to-list-of-allegedly-defamatory-acts\/"},"modified":"2025-04-25T07:03:48","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T15:03:48","slug":"drake-adds-kendricks-superbowl-performance-to-list-of-allegedly-defamatory-acts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/04\/25\/drake-adds-kendricks-superbowl-performance-to-list-of-allegedly-defamatory-acts\/","title":{"rendered":"Drake Adds Kendrick\u2019s Superbowl Performance To List Of Allegedly Defamatory Acts"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(Photo via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before Kendrick Lamar gave everyone what they tuned in for and performed \u201cNot Like Us\u201d on one of the biggest stages on the globe, he performed a skit teasing that playing the song would set Drake\u2019s lawyers in attack mode<\/a>. When he did perform the song, it is worth noting that Kendrick never called Drake a pedophile \u2014 the vertically challenged musician took the high road and self-censored that part. Now, did that stop the millions of viewers at home from hearing the packed stadium belt out a glorious a minorrrrrrrrrrr<\/a>? No, but it\u2019s a little strange to punish Universal Music Group for having a participatory audience, right? Drake and his lawyers don\u2019t think so. ABA Journal<\/a> has coverage:<\/p>\n

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Rapper and singer Drake has alleged that the Universal Music Group \u201chas tripled and quadrupled down on its defamation-for-profit strategy\u201d in part by arranging for fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar to perform his 2024 song \u201cNot Like Us\u201d at the 2025 Super Bowl, according to an amended lawsuit that he filed April 16<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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The rap track falsely accuses Drake of being a pedophile \u201cand calls for violent retribution,\u201d according to the suit. Even though Lamar left out the word \u201cpedophile\u201d at the Super Bowl, the defamatory meaning was still conveyed, causing more people \u201cto be duped into believing that Drake was a pedophile,\u201d according to the amended complaint, filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Look. There\u2019s no denying that Drake has a lot of money and can afford some of the best lawyers, but did they read the \u201chis silence carried defamatory meaning\u201d part out loud a couple of times before it went live? It holds weight theoretically, but what could Kendrick have done during that part of the song to not run afoul? Have Uncle Samuel Jackson interrupt the bridge to say that any similarity with actual events or rappers on this stage are purely coincidental and should not be taken as assertions of fact? While that may have fit with the cultural superego motif Uncle Sam was going for, it would have definitely ruined the cadence of the song.<\/p>\n

If Drake and his legal team seriously want to go in on this silence is sufficient for defamation line of argument, that can only mean one thing. We should soon catch news of Conan O\u2019Brian being served for daring to reference Kendrick\u2019s Superbowl Victory Lap at the Oscars: <\/p>\n

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Unlike Kendrick, Conan O\u2019Brien actually used the no-no word. Let\u2019s find out how \u201clawyered up\u201d he really is.<\/p>\n

Universal Music Group had this to say about the once respected rapper\u2019s legal move:<\/p>\n

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\u201cDrake, unquestionably one of the world\u2019s most accomplished artists and with whom we\u2019ve enjoyed a 16-year successful relationship, is being misled by his legal representatives into taking one absurd legal step after another,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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\u201cWe will demonstrate that all remaining claims are without merit,\u201d the statement said. \u201cIt is shameful that these foolish and frivolous legal theatrics continue. They are reputationally and financially costly to Drake and have no chance of success.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Damn. That \u201creputationally and financially costly\u201d line was devastating. Who wrote that? Kendrick?<\/p>\n

Drake Alleges Kendrick Lamar\u2019s Super Bowl Performance Defamed Him In Amended Suit Against Music Company<\/a> [ABA Journal]<\/p>\n

Earlier<\/strong>: Drake\u2019s Defamation Suit Assigns Blame To UMG And Popular Streamers. Does He Know We All Have The Same Internet?<\/a><\/p>\n

Drake\u2019s Attempt To Parlay Rap Battle Loss Into Courtroom Success Results In Another Loss<\/a><\/p>\n

Universal Music Group Moves To Dismiss Disgraced Rapper\u2019s Lawsuit<\/a><\/p>\n

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Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord\u2122 in the Facebook group\u00a0Law School Memes for Edgy T14s<\/a>. \u00a0He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who is learning to swim,\u00a0a published author on critical race theory, philosophy, and humor<\/a>, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at\u00a0cwilliams@abovethelaw.com<\/a>\u00a0and by tweet at\u00a0@WritesForRent<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The post Drake Adds Kendrick\u2019s Superbowl Performance To List Of Allegedly Defamatory Acts<\/a> appeared first on Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"
(Photo via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before Kendrick Lamar gave everyone what they tuned in for and performed \u201cNot Like Us\u201d on one of the biggest stages on the globe, he performed a skit teasing that playing the song would set Drake\u2019s lawyers in attack mode<\/a>. When he did perform the song, it is worth noting that Kendrick never called Drake a pedophile \u2014 the vertically challenged musician took the high road and self-censored that part. Now, did that stop the millions of viewers at home from hearing the packed stadium belt out a glorious a minorrrrrrrrrrr<\/a>? No, but it\u2019s a little strange to punish Universal Music Group for having a participatory audience, right? Drake and his lawyers don\u2019t think so. ABA Journal<\/a> has coverage:<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Rapper and singer Drake has alleged that the Universal Music Group \u201chas tripled and quadrupled down on its defamation-for-profit strategy\u201d in part by arranging for fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar to perform his 2024 song \u201cNot Like Us\u201d at the 2025 Super Bowl, according to an amended lawsuit that he filed April 16<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

The rap track falsely accuses Drake of being a pedophile \u201cand calls for violent retribution,\u201d according to the suit. Even though Lamar left out the word \u201cpedophile\u201d at the Super Bowl, the defamatory meaning was still conveyed, causing more people \u201cto be duped into believing that Drake was a pedophile,\u201d according to the amended complaint, filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Look. There\u2019s no denying that Drake has a lot of money and can afford some of the best lawyers, but did they read the \u201chis silence carried defamatory meaning\u201d part out loud a couple of times before it went live? It holds weight theoretically, but what could Kendrick have done during that part of the song to not run afoul? Have Uncle Samuel Jackson interrupt the bridge to say that any similarity with actual events or rappers on this stage are purely coincidental and should not be taken as assertions of fact? While that may have fit with the cultural superego motif Uncle Sam was going for, it would have definitely ruined the cadence of the song.<\/p>\n

If Drake and his legal team seriously want to go in on this silence is sufficient for defamation line of argument, that can only mean one thing. We should soon catch news of Conan O\u2019Brian being served for daring to reference Kendrick\u2019s Superbowl Victory Lap at the Oscars: <\/p>\n