Drake Accuses UMG Of Using Super Bowl And Grammys To Assassinate His Character
Drake's legal team has filed an amended complaint in his defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's 2024 diss track 'Not Like Us.' The updated filing includes new accusations stemming from events that have transpired since the suit was first filed in January, namely The Grammys and Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime Show.
According to the 'Nokia' artist, UMG used both events to further disparage his name and assassinate his character, arguing that many Super Bowl viewers 'including millions of children…never before heard the song or any of the songs that preceded it. It was the first, and will hopefully be the last, Super Bowl halftime show orchestrated to assassinate the character of another artist.'
The complaint also notes that Lamar omitted the word 'pedophile' from his Super Bowl performance, with Drake's team 'on information and belief' insisting Kendrick would not have been allowed to perform if he actually said the word. 'That is because nearly everyone understands that it is defamatory to falsely brand someone a 'certified pedophile,'' his team argues.
The complaint also notes that 'Not Like Us' — which won Grammys for Song and Record of the Year — was played during the award show's telecast, with audience members recorded singing along, something that would not have happened had UMG not approved its usage. It also noted that the song was removed from some of the ceremony's videos once they were uploaded to YouTube. There is also mention of UMG CEO Lucian Grainge high-fiving Dr. Dre while 'Not Like Us' played, fully aware of the current lawsuit in place.
Drake's lead attorney, Michael Gottlieb, issued the following statement regarding the updated filing: 'Drake's amended complaint makes an already strong case stronger. UMG's PR 'spin' and failed efforts to avoid discovery cannot suppress the facts and the truth. With discovery now moving forward, Drake will expose the evidence of UMG's misconduct, and UMG will be held accountable for the consequences of its ill-conceived decisions.'
UMG has since issued a lengthy response to the updated filing, arguing that Drake is being misled by his legal counsel into believing he has a shot at winning 'this frivolous and reckless lawsuit.' See the company's full response below.
'Drake, unquestionably one of the world's most accomplished artists and with whom we've enjoyed at 16-year successful relationship, is being misled by his legal representatives into taking one absurd legal step after another. In Texas last November, his counsel instituted a legal proceeding with much fanfare and bluster. On Monday, they quietly dropped the case. In New York in January, Drake's counsel filed a defamation lawsuit. Fearful of being sanctioned by the court for asserting false allegations, tonight they amended the complaint to withdraw them only to add more baseless allegations.
'Two weeks ago, his representatives celebrated a 'win': the granting of a routine discovery motion. That 'win' will become a loss if this frivolous and reckless lawsuit is not dropped in its entirety because Drake will personally be subject to discovery as well. As the old saying goes, 'be careful what you wish for.'
'Both the Texas and New York proceedings are an affront to all artists and creative expression. Should his legal representatives senselessly keep the New York lawsuit alive, we will demonstrate that all remaining claims are without merit. It is shameful that these foolish and frivolous legal theatrics continue. They are reputationally and financially costly to Drake and have no chance of success.'
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