As Thanksgiving approaches, one name stands out as the “Turkey of the Year”: Drake. This year, the superstar found himself at the center of multiple controversies that have left die-hard fans like me, along with critics, questioning his actions.
Earlier this year, Drake and Kendrick Lamar wrote several diss tracks throwing shots at each other, but the most notable was Kendrick’s “Not Like Us,” where he put out some serious allegations against Drake labeling him not as a “Certified Lover Boy” but rather a “Certified Pedophile.” Kendrick accused Drake of inappropriate behavior with young women, a claim that has been around for years but has resurfaced with the recent drama.
Drake’s questionable behavior has often been overlooked by fans and the media. One of the most significant instances involved Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown, with whom he frequently texted when she was 13, and he was 31. In an interview with Access Hollywood, Millie said, “We just texted the other day, and he was like, ‘I miss you so much,’ and I was like, ‘I miss you more!’” From an outside perspective, interactions with such a popular name with someone young is obviously a bit odd. When the interviewer asked about the advice he gives her on boys, she replied, “You know, that stays in the text messages.” This interview raised a lot of concerns around his history with younger women, which supports Kendrick’s accusations.
In “Not Like Us,” Kendrick also calls out members of Drake’s record label, OVO, as sex offenders. The cover art for the song shows Drake’s mansion edited as a sex offender map, with 13 pins inside the property, to represent Drake and the members of OVO. One of the OVO members, Baka Not Nice, had been previously arrested on assault and human trafficking charges, and the song suggests that Drake and his circle may be involved in similar acts.
Drake’s year has been full of problems, from serious accusations to concerns about his behavior and friends. Him refusing to address these issues has hurt his reputation, and the images of everybody involved. For this, Drake takes the cake for “Turkey of the Year.”
Kendrick Lamar’s cover art for “Not Like Us.”