Conan O’Brien’s sharp-edged joke referencing the ongoing feud between hip-hop heavyweights Drake and Kendrick Lamar was the highlight of the 97th Academy Awards. O’Brien, known for his quick wit, made a playful comment about the drama surrounding the two rap icons during the live broadcast on March 2.

“We’re halfway through the show, which means it’s time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile,” the comedian, who is 61 years old, joked about Lamar’s viral diss track ‘Not Like Us’, which ignited one of the most intense rap feuds in recent history.

Drake’s Legal Battle Over “Not Like Us”

O’Brien’s joke wasn’t simply a passing remark—it brought up a legal saga unfolding for the past few months. Drake settled with iHeartMedia over the supposed promotion of ‘Not Like Us’ just before the Oscars, according to court documents confirmed by the rapper’s legal team.

“the parties were able to reach a settlement satisfactory to both sides.”

Drake originally petitioned against iHeartMedia and Universal Music Group (UMG) in November 2024, alleging that they orchestrated a campaign to boost the track’s visibility while allowing false and defamatory allegations against him to spread. In his legal action, the Toronto rapper accused UMG of actively promoting the song to harm his reputation. According to their response, UMG dismissed the claims.

“Not only are these claims untrue, but the notion that we would seek to harm the reputation of any artist—let alone Drake—is illogical.” The label, which represents both Lamar and Drake, emphasized its commitment to both artists’ careers, adding, “We have invested massively in his music and our employees around the world have worked tirelessly for many years to help him achieve historic commercial and personal financial success.”

Conan O’Brien’s Oscars Moment Sparks Reactions

Despite the laughter from O’Brien’s joke in the Dolby Theatre, online reactions were mixed. Some viewers praised the comedian’s fearless humor, while others felt that he was exacerbated an already heated situation.

One Twitter user by name of justdan_again, “The crazy part was when the audience felt disgusted instead cheering.”

Another, named Based_Native, tweeted, “Conan is the real GOAT.’

While another by the name of jazllyn asked, “Why does everyone love to hate on drake? smh.”

Drake and Kendrick’s Ongoing Tension

Drake and Lamar have been feuding for years, but “Not Like Us” escalated the situation. Lamar’s scathing track accuses the For All the Dogs rapper of inappropriate behavior, a claim Drake has vehemently denied. The diss record became a cultural sensation after it peaked on the charts and dominated hip-hop discussions for months. The feud is continuing despite the legal battles and public disputes. O’Brien’s Oscars joke has resurrected the rivalry, and fans wonder what the next chapter of this rap war will bring.