Drake Denies Leaked DM About Legal Dispute with Universal Music Group: Claims Message is Fake
Drake has responded to the recent leak of a direct message (DM) allegedly sent to celebrity stylist Chris Blake Griffith discussing his ongoing legal battle with Universal Music Group (UMG), calling it fake.
The purported Instagram DM, which was shared publicly by Griffith on January 7, 2025, allegedly showed Drake speaking about his legal dispute with his record label. In the leaked message, Drizzy compares his situation to Nike funding a campaign about LeBron James cheating on his wife, emphasizing that his case is not related to street gangster behavior. The 6 God is quoted as saying, “Me and Universal is like if Nike was funding a campaign about Lebron cheating on his wife… not adidas or Reebok… Nike the company he been with since he started…my situation is not no street s***.”
In the message, Drake goes on to suggest that artists before him were dismissed as “eccentric” and were not given the opportunity to address their grievances with Universal Music Group. He claims that his legal action aims to change the system and make the music industry a safer space for future artists. “I’m going to change that and make the building a safer place for every artist moving forward,” he allegedly writes.
The DM also references another controversial topic, touching on Griffith’s claim that NFL player Stefon Diggs attempted to drug and rape him. Drake is said to have responded by questioning Griffith’s intentions: “You asking me to post a tape about you ratting on people g.”
Drake Denies the Leaked DM
Following the Instagram post, Drake quickly denied any involvement in sending the alleged message. The rapper’s representative, Akademiks, responded via X (formerly Twitter), labeling the leaked conversation as “fake”. Akademiks wrote: “This is a fake DM. Drake called buddy a Rat….. he got mad and made up some fake DM to try to make the blogs and go viral. End of story,” further clarifying, “Source – THE BOY.” This statement from Akademiks strongly suggests that the messages were fabricated in an attempt to garner attention.
Drake’s Ongoing Legal Dispute with Universal Music Group
The DM leak comes on the heels of Drake’s ongoing legal battles against Universal Music Group. In November 2024, Drake filed two pre-action petitions accusing UMG of using streaming bots and payola to artificially boost the popularity of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” a move that Drake claims undermines his own work. Additionally, Drake has accused the label of defamation for releasing a song that labels him as a pedophile.
The legal drama surrounding Drake and UMG has taken another turn with a scheduled court hearing on January 13, 2025 in Bexar County, Texas, where a judge will determine if Drake can proceed with deposing individuals from UMG and iHeartMedia regarding his allegations of illegal radio payments. Another hearing related to Drake’s lawsuit against UMG and Spotify is set to take place on January 16, 2025, in New York.
Conclusion: A Serious Legal Battle Ahead
As Drake continues to fight his legal battles with Universal Music Group, the rapper’s response to the leaked DM emphasizes his desire to keep his personal and legal matters under control. Whether or not the DM leak was part of an attempt to manipulate public perception, the legal drama surrounding Drake and his label is far from over. With multiple court hearings scheduled in the coming weeks, fans and the public are eagerly waiting to see how the situation will unfold.
