Drake sues Universal Music over Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl performance, calls it character assassination

The battle between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has taken a legal turn, as the Canadian rapper has officially filed a lawsuit against Kendrick Lamar and Universal Music over the controversial performance of "Not Like Us" during the Super Bowl LIX halftime show. The performance, seen by over 133 million viewers, is now the center of a legal storm, with Drake's team calling it a public and deliberate attack on his character.

Drake’s legal team blasts Super Bowl performance as defamation on the biggest stage
Drake’s legal representatives filed their complaint in a Manhattan court, arguing that the Super Bowl halftime show was used as a platform to defame and discredit him in front of the largest live audience in Super Bowl history. “The recording was made during the 2025 Super Bowl and broadcast to the largest audience for a Super Bowl halftime show in history, more than 133 million people, including millions of children and millions more who had never heard the song or any of the songs that preceded it,” Drake’s team stated.

Drake expands defamation suit against Universal over Kendrick Lamar’s disshttps://t.co/s3KNoXnGga

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What sparked even more controversy was their claim that the entire halftime show was “orchestrated to assassinate the character of another artist,” a bold accusation suggesting Kendrick’s performance had less to do with entertainment and more with personal vendetta.

Allegations of strategic defamation and manipulation of public perception
Drake’s team alleges that Universal Music played a key role in enabling the performance, claiming the label utilized its financial and strategic influence to position Lamar as the face of the halftime show. They further argue that Kendrick’s omission of the word “pedophile” in the live Super Bowl rendition — a term used in the studio version of “Not Like Us” — indicates Lamar’s own awareness of the potential defamatory nature of the lyrics.

The lawsuit also details real-life consequences Drake has allegedly faced, including a shooting, burglaries, and widespread online harassment following the halftime performance. His legal team insists these events have significantly damaged his brand and public image.

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While Universal Music is seeking to have the case dismissed, citing Drake’s own role in escalating the rap beef, the legal battle only adds fuel to one of the most talked-about rivalries in modern hip-hop. As of now, neither Drake nor Kendrick Lamar has publicly commented on the lawsuit — but the silence may not last for long.