Hey there. Berry is upset with Drake because she says he didn’t ask for her permission to use a photo of her. Drake posted it on Instagram to promote his new single “Slime You Out.” Honestly, I’m confused about why she’s mad. One thing about Drake (Champagne Papi) is that he often demeans Black women. It got me thinking, what’s really going on with you and marriage? I had to dig deeper into who you are, your background, and your family. Oh, your dad left when you were five? That must have been tough. He never walked you to the bus stop? No wonder you’re mad. And your mom never remarried? You don’t have a solid concept of family, so it’s understandable that marriage doesn’t appeal to you.
There’s a fine line between demeaning and having fun, using wit and humor. A lot of the music that Wayne and I make, for instance, is fun and witty. Look at our song “I Just Want to F*** Every Girl in the World.” It’s one of our biggest hits. But the drama around Drake just keeps getting more troubling. Recently, there’s been a lot of talk online about Drake being exposed as a creep, especially when it comes to degrading women, particularly Black women. Fans and critics are digging up old stories about Drake’s history with women he used to obsess over, and there’s a recurring pattern. Drake starts by publicly declaring his love for a woman, acting all smitten, but when she turns him down, he flips the script and becomes this vindictive, misogynistic nightmare.
Now that the whole situation with Drake and Halle Berry has resurfaced, fans are saying this is a prime example of how Drake is actually a horrible person with twisted thoughts, just like Kendrick said. Drake tried to humiliate Halle by using a suggestive picture of her for his cover art, even though she objected to it. What makes it even creepier is that Drake used to publicly obsess over Halle. He would gush about her in interviews, and even when she was pregnant, he made weird comments about how it was a shame she wasn’t available because he would have definitely been with her if she were.
“Would you seriously consider being with her?”
“100%.”
“Really?”
“Of course, what do you mean? I feel like she would be here right now, sitting right there.”
But Halle Berry wasn’t interested in Drake. Instead of accepting the rejection gracefully, Drake chose to degrade her in public. This isn’t an isolated incident. Drake has a history of behaving this way with women he’s infatuated with. He’s done it with Rihanna, Serena Williams, Megan Thee Stallion, and others. Initially, he showers these women with praise, but once they make it clear they aren’t interested in a serious relationship, he starts dissing them and their partners.
It gets darker. Remember how Kendrick Lamar threw shade at Drake on his diss track “Meet the Grams,” saying Drake should die so these women can live with a purpose? Harsh words, right? Kendrick even compared Drake to convicted offender Harvey Weinstein, claiming they both deserve to rot in prison for life. So, this isn’t just about Drake degrading women in his songs. There’s a deeper, more sinister pattern here.
What’s Drake’s issue with women, and what’s the real story behind the Halle Berry situation? Is Drake really on the same level as Harvey Weinstein when it comes to being a creep? Let’s dive into it. We all know what a picture like this is supposed to represent. Sliming the first black woman to win an Oscar is next-level grime. Drake has always given off an unsettling vibe, from making fun of Megan being shot, trying to groom Millie Bobby Brown, to sliding into Billie Eilish’s DMs when she was just 15 or 16. Why does Drake still have a career? His obsession with Halle Berry is just one example of his public infatuation with famous women who never showed any interest in him.
“You really have like, let’s say she wasn’t. Would you seriously consider being with her?”
“100%.”
“Really?”
“Of course, what do you mean? I feel like she would be here right now, sitting right there. Nothing was the same September 24th. What’s up? She would be here turned to the max. She would have the Jaden Smith t-shirt on. She would be like, ‘Oh, head to toe Tims.’ You’d be like, ‘Halle just came here wearing Tims.'”
Drake not only talked obsessively about Halle in interviews, calling her his ultimate fantasy and saying he’d be with her if she wasn’t already seeing someone else, but he also made some seriously weird comments about her in his songs. Take, for instance, Drake’s lyrics on the Migos’ 2013 track “Versace Remix,” where he says, “Take a famous girl out where there’s no paparazzi. I’m trying to give Halle Berry a baby and no one can stop me.” Excuse you? What exactly does that mean, Drake?
Drake isn’t the first or last famous guy to have a crush on Halle Berry. She’s been a crush for many since the ’90s. Tons of rap songs mention her, and even Kendrick Lamar gave her a shoutout in “Money Trees” with Jay Rock. But there’s a huge difference between a flirty comment and what Drake did. Talking about wanting to give her a baby and no one can stop him is next-level creepy. It’s one thing to sing about a celebrity crush in a playful or even spicy way, but this is unhinged. Since Halle didn’t show any interest in Drake, he took things further and degraded her in a disturbing way, which explains why Kendrick called him out so harshly and exposed his questionable treatment of black women.
What exactly did Drake do to trigger Halle so much? And how does he keep getting away with degrading black women? The “Slime You Out” controversy. Last September, Drake released his first collaboration with SZA called “Slime You Out” from his album “For All the Dogs.” The cover of the single featured a photo of Halle Berry getting slimed at the 2012 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. No one is safe from the slime.
Before we discuss why Drake’s move enraged Halle, it’s worth mentioning the conspiracy theory that Nickelodeon’s slime gag is a humiliation ritual. Supposedly, the slime symbolizes something gross and degrading. Given the disturbing history associated with Nickelodeon, like the creepy behavior of Dan Schneider and allegations about what went down behind the scenes with young actors, the slime takes on a really dark undertone.
When Drake released the cover art for “Slime You Out,” showing Halle Berry getting slimed, there was backlash, with fans calling him a weirdo and pointing out that it was bad enough he wrote that creepy line about wanting to give Halle a baby. It wasn’t just fans who were outraged. Halle also called out Drake and explained why she was so upset about him using that photo.
Halle fires back. After “Slime You Out” was released, Halle shared a cryptic Instagram post saying, “Sometimes you have to be the bigger guy, even if you’re a woman.” When one of her followers asked her thoughts on Drake using that photo, Halle responded, “Didn’t get my permission. That’s not cool. I thought better of him.” She followed up with another comment, “Hence my post today. When people you admire disappoint you, you have to be the bigger person and move on.”
The controversy didn’t stop there. Drake’s obsessed fans began harassing Halle, arguing that since Getty owned the photo, Drake didn’t need her permission to use it. Halle clarified that it wasn’t about the legalities. It was about respect. Drake had actually reached out to her for permission to use the photo, and she had told him no, likely understanding the deeper meaning behind the photo. Despite her refusal, Drake used it anyway. When someone on Instagram asked why she was upset, Halle responded, “Because he asked me and I said no. That’s why. Why ask if you intend to do what you want to do? That was the ‘f*** you’ to me. Not cool. You get it?”
Drake ignoring a woman’s “no” isn’t new, and Kendrick Lamar’s past comments about him seem justified. Many misunderstood Halle’s stance, thinking she claimed legal ownership of the photo. If she had, her lawyers would have likely intervened. Instead, she highlighted Drake’s disrespect, especially after he pretended to seek her permission. If this had been a one-time incident with an apology from Drake, it might have been forgotten. But Drake has a history of being creepy and disrespectful to women, especially those he publicly obsesses over. This incident is part of a troubling pattern.
Drake has a track record of blatant misogyny and disrespect towards women, especially Black women. His songs often include creepy lines about women and controlling them. From exotic dancers to exes, his lyrics are full of contempt for women who defy him. On his 2022 album “Her Loss,” he raps in the opening track “Rich Flex,” “All of you need to remember who you’re talking to. It’s the slaughter gang CEO.” The controversy peaked with “Circo Loco,” where he raps, “This lie about getting shots, but she’s still a stallion,” a shady double entendre aimed at Megan Thee Stallion, who was shot in the foot by Tory Lanez in 2020.
Megan responded to Drake on Twitter, saying, “Stop using my shooting for clout. Since when is it cool to joke about women getting shot? You rap dudes are lame, ready to boycott about shoes and clothes, but dog pile on a black woman when she says one of y’all homeboys hurt her.” She added, “And when the facts come out, remember y’all favorite rappers that stood behind a dude that shot a female.”
Drake mentioning Megan is odd because they were never friends, and it seems he did it just to humiliate her. The irony of his misogyny is not surprising. Drake has maintained his relevancy by adapting to trends, but using a Black woman for his album cover while ridiculing another Black woman is troubling. It’s not about legality but respect. Making jokes about people being shot, especially women who have publicly grieved and dealt with trauma, is insensitive and disrespectful.
Some might say, “Drake doesn’t have to use Megan for clout. He’s one of the biggest artists in the world.” Yet he did, which makes it even more corny. Some insiders claim Megan is one of many women who turned down Drake, prompting his support for Tory Lanez. Drake’s history of demeaning women in his songs, coupled with other disturbing rumors, paints a negative picture.
Drake initially rapped about his journey to stardom, love life, and Toronto. But criticisms of being soft and sensitive seemed to push him into a more stereotypically masculine persona. By 2013’s “Nothing Was the Same,” Drake was leaning into a tougher image, with tracks like “The Language” and “Worst Behavior” focused on conflict, money, and power. In his 2014 single “Draft Day,” he even talks about hiring Black men from the hood as hitmen for donuts and coffee. That same year, his security team member Baka Not Nice was charged with serious crimes involving a 22-year-old woman. Despite pleading guilty to one charge, Drake signed Baka to his label once he got out of prison.
Drake’s celebration of Baka after his release showed the cracks in his nice-guy facade. His ongoing relationship with Baka indicates a disregard for women’s safety.
Let’s talk about the misogyny in Drake’s music. In his 2015 mixtape with Future, “What a Time to Be Alive,” he tells women to shut up and accept whatever comes their way. By the time he released “Views” in 2016, Drake was all about this tough guy image. In the song “Child’s Play,” he starts with a sample from DJ Eric saying that if a girl goes to a basketball game, she’s probably hooking up with a player. Later, he threatens to send women who cross him back to the hood. In “Hotline Bling,” he complains about a woman having a life outside his control, pitting “good girls” against those who go out more.
On his 2018 album “Scorpion,” Drake keeps this up, portraying women as lost without his guidance. He tries to come off as different from openly misogynistic rappers, but his “Mr. Nice Guy” act feels pretty sinister.
Remember when Rihanna was attacked by Chris Brown in 2009? Drake publicly supported her and they had a brief fling later on. But when Rihanna didn’t want a serious relationship, Drake started dissing her. He even made up with Chris Brown and collaborated on “No Guidance” in 2019 and “Not You Too” in 2020. After years of claiming he loved Rihanna, he teamed up with the guy who almost killed her once she moved on.
Drake didn’t stop there. He also shaded Rihanna and her partner ASAP Rocky. Rihanna hasn’t mentioned Drake publicly for six years, but he still disses her and the father of her children. The last time she spoke about Drake was in a 2018 Vogue interview. She reflected on that cringy VMAs moment when Drake professed his love for her while presenting her with the Vanguard Award.
“But most of all, we love the woman who hasn’t changed since day one. She’s someone I’ve been in love with since I was 22 years old,” Drake said. Rihanna said waiting through his speech was the most uncomfortable part. “I don’t like too many compliments, and I don’t like to be put on blast,” she said. When asked about Drake, she said, “We don’t have a friendship now, but we’re not enemies either. It is what it is.”
Since then, Rihanna hasn’t mentioned Drake, but he’s still throwing shade on his 2023 album “For All the Dogs.” He insults Rihanna’s bedroom skills, calling her average and bragging about being with better women. He raps, “Yeah, and the ex was average with you. Yeah, I’m anti ’cause I had it with you. Okay, I’m anti like your daddy’s sister. Anti like a family picture, and I had way better than you.” He also takes shots at ASAP Rocky with lines like, “Why they make it sound like I’m still hung up on you? That could never be, girl, can’t ruin me. Better him than me.”
Drake even brings her up again on his Kendrick diss track “Family Matters,” bragging about sleeping with her before Rocky and mocking Rocky for being a family man. He raps, “I ain’t even know you rap still, ’cause they only talking about your fit again. Probably got to have a kid again before you think of dropping any hits again.”
Is Drake trying to say it’s bad to prioritize family over a rap career? It’s confusing and sad to see Drake thinking this way at his age. Fans feel it’s about time Drake is called out for how he treats women. What do you think about the Halle Berry controversy and Drake’s pattern of degrading black women? And what about Kendrick’s claims comparing Drake to Harvey Weinstein? Was Kendrick exaggerating, or is there some truth to it? Share your thoughts below
