Midway through the 97th Annual Academy Awards on Sunday (March 2), host Conan O’Brien delivered a sharp one-liner referencing the ongoing Kendrick Lamar and Drake feud—turning the Oscars stage into yet another battleground for the rap rivals.
Returning from a commercial break, O’Brien stepped onto the Dolby Theatre stage and quipped, “Well, we’re halfway through the show — which means it’s time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile!” The audience erupted in laughter before O’Brien quickly followed up with, “Don’t worry, I’m lawyered up!” The remark nodded to Lamar’s viral Super Bowl LIX halftime performance of Not Like Us, where he never actually used the word “pedophile” but still fueled widespread speculation.
Oscars joke adds fuel to the Kendrick-Drake rivalry
O’Brien’s Oscars joke arrived after a heated month in the Kendrick-Drake feud. Lamar’s Not Like Us dominated the 2025 Grammy Awards, earning record of the year and song of the year—his first-ever Big Four category wins. He then delivered a blockbuster Super Bowl halftime performance, featuring a medley of his biggest hits alongside SZA, Mustard, and Serena Williams. The performance reignited interest in Not Like Us, sending it back to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Meanwhile, Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR countered with their collaborative R&B album, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. In the same week, Lamar and SZA’s joint track Luther climbed to the top of the Hot 100, adding another layer to their ongoing chart rivalry.
With O’Brien now weighing in on the drama, it’s clear that the Kendrick-Drake beef is no longer just a rap feud—it’s pop culture’s biggest talking point.
Watch Conan O’Brien joke about the Kendrick-Drake beef below:
Conan O'Brien at the #Oscars: "Well, we're halfway through the show, which means it's time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile." pic.twitter.com/KmbX3QjnlM
— Variety (@Variety) March 3, 2025