Conan O’Brien Takes a Savage Jab at Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s Feud During Oscars

Celebrity Gossips
Bente Birkeland
March 3, 2025
6 minutes read

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Conan O’Brien isn’t one to shy away from controversy, and he proved it again during his Oscars hosting gig by taking a not-so-subtle dig at the ongoing feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake.

“We’re halfway through the show, which means it’s time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile,” O’Brien joked, pausing for dramatic effect before adding with a smirk, “Don’t worry, I’m lawyered up.”

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

The audience reaction was mixed—some gasps, some laughter—but the joke was clearly a nod to Lamar’s now-infamous Super Bowl Halftime Show performance in February, where he performed Not Like Us, the diss track that’s become the defining anthem of their rap war.

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The song, which sent shockwaves through the industry, includes the line: “Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophile,” a direct shot at Drake’s 2021 album title. The accusation hasn’t sat well with Drake, who quickly hit back with a lawsuit against Universal Music Group, claiming defamation and harassment over the track’s lyrics.

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This legal battle is just the latest chapter in what’s become one of the most intense rap feuds in years. The drama started in early 2024 when Lamar fired the first major shot with a scathing verse on Future and Metro Boomin’s Like That. Things escalated from there, with both rappers trading increasingly brutal diss tracks, culminating in Not Like Us emerging as the biggest hit of the rivalry.

Lamar has been riding high on the success, dominating the 2025 Grammy Awards just before his Super Bowl performance. He took home Song of the Year and Record of the Year, further cementing his position as the victor—at least in the eyes of the industry.

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As for O’Brien, he didn’t stop at just one zinger during the Oscars, but this joke definitely struck a nerve, adding yet another layer to one of the most talked-about feuds in music today. Whether Drake or Kendrick will fire back remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—this beef isn’t cooling down anytime soon.