Drake Amends Defamation Lawsuit Against UMG To Include Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX Performance

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Drake has decided to strengthen his legal action against the Universal Music Group record label by adding an amendment. The latest development in this case now includes references to Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show, a performance that holds the record as the most-watched halftime show ever.

This week, Drake’s legal team submitted an adjustment to their lawsuit. This amendment claims that Kendrick Lamar’s performance of the popular track “Not Like Us” sparked baseless and harmful accusations against Drake. Originally, it was this song that led Drake to sue Universal Music Group (UMG) in January over a diss track. He accused UMG of endorsing, publishing, and promoting a viral hit based on a rap song that erroneously accuses him of pedophilia and incites violence against him. Additionally, he referenced a shooting at his Toronto home in 2024 where one of his security guards was injured. The updated lawsuit further points to the escalating threats Drake and his family have faced since the Super Bowl performance of this song.

The lawsuit states that the song was played during the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, reaching a record-breaking audience of over 133 million people, including many children. This performance, Drake argues, was intended to harm his reputation. Although the song omitted certain words like “pedophile,” Drake believes this censorship is insufficient.

Following the song’s return to No. 1 on the Billboard 100 a week after the Super Bowl, and Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy performance in the same year, which Drake sees as reinforcing defamatory claims, the lawsuit has been updated to include both events.

Drake’s main lawyer, Michael Gottlieb, commented that the amended complaint strengthens an already robust case. He added that Universal Music Group’s public relations tactics and attempts to avoid discovery cannot hide the facts and truth. With discovery now underway, Drake will reveal evidence of Universal Music Group’s misconduct, and they will be held responsible for their actions.

UMG, who have collaborated with Drake for 16 years, one of the world’s top artists, claims that his legal advisors are leading him astray, causing him to take one unnecessary legal action after another, which they consider absurd. In response, Drake’s team issues a statement expressing their perspective on the matter.

UMG’s recent declaration can be seen as an effort to manipulate the storyline and divert attention from the facts: Drake is standing up to the biggest music company globally, demanding answers for their actions, and he does so fearlessly.

In Texas, we chose not to pursue the discovery action anymore as the process will now take place in New York. But let me clarify, this isn’t a retreat; it’s a strategic move, a victory. On the other hand, Universal Music Group (UMG) has abandoned its first amendment plea in Texas because they don’t have a valid claim there – that’s losing. And UMG is fully aware that their case is only becoming more challenging.

Drake embraces transparency and has no secrets to conceal. The concern shouldn’t be for Drake, but rather the present management at Universal Music Group (UMG). We eagerly await statements from Lucian Grainge, John Janick, and UMG staff under oath.

Universal Music Group (UMG) presents itself as a champion of creativity, but in reality, it exploits it and the artist community is well aware of this. UMG extracts profits from artists, only to discard them afterwards. Drake is among many artists raising doubts about UMG’s management. The public and artists alike should be troubled by recent news concerning UMG’s major shareholder, which underscores the importance of transparency not just at executive levels, but also reaching the Board of Directors.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but echo the words of UMG, “Beware what you wish for.” Drake surely knew what he was reaching for when he demanded truth and accountability.

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2025-04-19 06:56