Oscars 2025: Host Conan O’Brien Takes A Jab At Drake vs Kendrick Lamar Feud

The 97th Academy Awards delivered a night full of excitement, drama, and unexpected humor. Host Conan O'Brien kept the audience entertained, and one of his standout moments was a sharp-witted remark about the ongoing feud between hip-hop heavyweights Drake and Kendrick Lamar.

Conan O'Brien's Bold Jab at Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Controversy

Midway through the ceremony, O'Brien took a direct shot at Lamar's viral Super Bowl Halftime Show diss toward Drake, referencing one of the most controversial moments in their feud.

"We're halfway through the show, which means it's time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile," O'Brien quipped, pausing before adding, "Don't worry, I'm lawyered up."

The joke drew roaring laughter from the audience, who immediately recognized the nod to Lamar's diss track Not Like Us. In the song, Lamar took aim at Drake's Certified Lover Boy album with the scathing line:

"Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophile."

The track quickly became the defining anthem of their escalating rap battle.

Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar: A Feud That Won't Fade

The Drake-Kendrick Lamar rivalry has been dominating headlines for months. It all kicked off in early 2024 when Lamar took shots at both Drake and J. Cole on Like That, a collaboration with Future and Metro Boomin. The diss ignited a fiery back-and-forth, with Lamar's Not Like Us emerging as the most viral hit of their war of words.

Drake, however, didn't take the accusations lightly. In response, he launched a lawsuit against Universal Music Group, claiming the lyrics in Not Like Us were defamatory and harmful to his reputation. His legal team argued that Lamar's words perpetuated a damaging and false narrative about him.

Despite the heated feud, Kendrick Lamar's career has only continued to soar. Ahead of his explosive Super Bowl Halftime Show, he secured major wins at the Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year.

With both rap icons refusing to back down, the battle between Drake and Lamar remains one of the most talked-about conflicts in music. And as O'Brien's Oscars joke proved, their rivalry has captivated not just fans but Hollywood's biggest stars as well.