Drake has filed an updated federal defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), asserting he was defamed during Kendrick Lamar’s performance at the Super Bowl halftime show and at the Grammy Awards. In court filings, Drake’s lawyers noted that over 100 million viewers, who tuned in to these major events, were introduced to Lamar’s contentious diss track “Not Like Us.” The Canadian rapper originally lodged the lawsuit in January, claiming that the exposure substantially increased both streams of the song and threats to his safety.
Lamar, who is signed under Interscope Records—a subsidiary of UMG—is not named in the lawsuit. However, the dispute arises from a heated feud between the two rappers, which included accusations in their songs. During “Not Like Us,” Lamar alleges that Drake is a “certified pedophile,” a claim Drake firmly denies. Furthermore, during the Super Bowl, while Lamar skipped the most notorious line, he did make a reference that gained considerable media attention, suggesting that Drake targets young girls, which quickly became a viral moment.
Drake’s lawyers argue that Lamar intentionally omitted the more defamatory lyrics due to their apparent derogatory nature and highlighted the damaging effects of the viral meme derived from Lamar’s performance. The lawsuit suggests that both events, particularly the Super Bowl—which recorded the highest audience for a halftime show—boosted the song’s visibility in a detrimental manner for Drake.
UMG has sought to dismiss the lawsuit, describing it as “illogical” and asserting that it could undermine free speech for artists. In response to the legal developments, UMG suggested that Drake’s legal team is misleading him into pursuing unreasonable lawsuits. Despite these challenges, Drake recently secured a procedural victory when Judge Jeannette Vargas allowed the discovery phase of the lawsuit to proceed, enabling Drake to obtain relevant documents about the Super Bowl and Grammy performances.
As this case continues to unfold, it highlights the complexities of defamation within the music industry, particularly amid personal feuds where public image and artistic expression intersect. With discovery now in motion, both sides prepare for potential outcomes as the legal battle progresses, with a trial possibly commencing in 2026 if no out-of-court settlement is reached.