Drake has modified his demand for defamation against Universal Music Group to refer to the performance of Kendrick Lamar of “Not Like Us” in the Super Bowl.
Lamar's part -time show in February was a critical success and, according to reports, the most watched part -time performance in the history of the event. Many fans wondered how “not like us”, his Grammy winning album track that includes, among his scathing lyrics, a famous line accusing Drake of being a pedophile.
Lamar altered that letter in his performance, which Drake cited in his amended suit. Lamar made other critical letters, including the “I Hear You Like 'Em Young” line.
“Kendrick Lamar would not have allowed him to act during the performance of the Super Bowl unless the word 'pedophile' (in the phrase 'certified pedophiles') was omitted from the letter,” wrote Drake's lawyers in his complaint. “That is because almost everyone understands that it is defamatory to falsely mark someone as a” certified pedophile. “
“The agreement to censor the word 'pedophile' could not cure the performance of the Super Bowl to transmit the central defamatory meaning of the recording,” Drake's team said in his amended presentation. “On the other hand, the performance of the Super Bowl further solidified the public's belief in the truth of the accusations against Drake.”
“It was the first, and hopefully it will be the last part -time show of the orchestrated Super Bowl to kill the character of another artist,” the complaint continued.
Drake first sued UMG, where both he and Lamar are signed, three months ago (although, in particular, he did not directly demand Lamar), accusing the label of promoting a single that believes that he is defamatory.
UMG, in a statement published on Wednesday, said that “Drake, without a doubt, one of the most successful artists in the world and with whom we have enjoyed a successful 16 -year relationship, is being deceived by its legal representatives to take an absurd legal step after another,” UMG said. “We will demonstrate that all the remaining statements have no merit. It is shameful that these silly and frivolous legal theatrical continue. They are reputable and financially expensive for Drake and have no chance of success.”
In response to a motion of discovery that could give Drake access to the Lamar contract with UMG, the company said: “Two weeks ago, its representatives celebrated a 'victory': the granting of a motion of routine discovery. That 'will win' will become a loss if this frivolous and imprudent demand is not eliminated in its entirety because Drake will be personally subject to discovery.”
“Be careful what you want,” they added.
Lamar's performance of “Not Like Us” in the Super Bowl will probably not change much in Drake's efforts to sue, said Ken White, a renowned litigant of the first amendment that spoke with the Times in January.
“There is a risk, but it seems to be low due to the way Drake has decided to do this,” White said. “Very deliberately it was after UMG, and said it's not about Kendrick. It was more like, 'I don't want to fight with Kendrick, I just want to fight with UMG'. All I could do is say: 'UMG promoted this song in the Super Bowl, his hands got Kendrick Lamar The Gig.' “
