Judge Jeannette A. Vargas threw out Drake's lawsuit against Universal Music Group, opining that Lamar's diss track &34;can only reasonably be understood as opin

Judge Jeannette A. Vargas threw out Drake's lawsuit against Universal Music Group, opining that Lamar's diss track "can only reasonably be understood as opinion."

Drake's defamation suit over Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us' dismissed by judge

Judge Jeannette A. Vargas threw out Drake's lawsuit against Universal Music Group, opining that Lamar's diss track "can only reasonably be understood as opinion."

By Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at **. He began writing for EW in 2022.

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October 9, 2025 8:06 p.m. ET

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Drake performing in London in 2025; Kendrick Lamar performing in Miami in 2022. Credit:

Simone Joyner/Getty for ABA; Jason Koerner/Getty

- Drake's defamation lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar's diss track "Not Like Us" has been dismissed by a judge.

- District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas ruled that the song "can only reasonably be understood as opinion."

- A spokesperson for the defendant, Universal Music Group, says the suit "was an affront to all artists and their creative expression."

Drake's defamation lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar's chart-topping diss track "Not Like Us" has been thrown out.

District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas approved Universal Music Group's motion to dismiss the suit Thursday, according to court documents reviewed by **.

Judge Vargas concluded that Lamar's "allegedly defamatory statements" in the hit song — which include lines stating that Drake is a "certified pedophile" with a proclivity to "like 'em young" — are "nonactionable opinion," leading to the case's dismissal. She opined that the song "can only reasonably be understood as opinion" by listeners rather than "conveying objective facts."

Drake at a Toronto Raptors game in 2024.

Mark Blinch/Getty

A spokesperson for Universal Music Group, the company that represents both Drake and Lamar, said in a statement to provided to EW, "From the outset, this suit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day. We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our work successfully promoting Drake's music and investing in his career."

A rep for Drake told EW, "We intend to appeal today's ruling, and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it."

Representatives Lamar, who was not named as a defendant in the suit, didn't immediately respond to EW's request for comment.

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Drake's complaint alleged that the label "approved, published, and launched a campaign to create a viral hit out of a rap track that falsely accuses Drake of being a pedophile and calls for violent retribution against him." The rapper's attorneys argued that the track had become "ubiquitous," and that hundreds of millions of listeners believe that he is a "certified pedophile" thanks to UMG's "unrelenting campaign."

The "Hotline Bling" musician accused UMG of defamation, second-degree harassment, and a New York state business law violation.

Drake sought nominal, compensatory, and punitive damages, plus legal fees. The musician's attorneys also argued that the court should order declaratory relief stating that UMG's statements about the song were false, as well as injunctive relief that would ban UMG from "making statements about the popularity" of Lamar's song.

Kendrick Lamar performing the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show.

Cindy Ord/Getty

Judge Vargas opined that it was implausible to assume that the average listener genuinely believes that "a diss track is the product of a thoughtful or disinterested investigation, conveying to the public fact-checked verifiable content."

The judge also noted that "Not Like Us" was not released in a vacuum, but within the context of a larger rap feud full of "caustic, inflammatory insults and accusations" from both musicians. She highlighted the fact that Drake himself rapped "[t]alk about [Drake] likin' young girls… Heard it on [*The Joe Budden Podcast*], it's gotta be true" on "Taylor Made Freestyle," which preceded "Not Like Us," and opined that that particular lyric "clearly prods Lamar to discuss preexisting rumors about Drake's interest in minors" on the latter song.

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Judge Vargas also stated that she was unconvinced by Drake's attorneys citing the eventual popularity of "Not Like Us" as rationale for the suit, as "Kendrick Lamar could not have been aware that it would break streaming records, win Record of the Year at the Grammys, or be featured at the Super Bowl Halftime Show" at the time of its release. "Whether publications constitute actionable fact or protected opinion cannot vary based upon the popularity they achieve," she wrote.**

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Source: VOGUE MAG

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