Entertainment
Judge dismisses Drake’s lawsuit against UMG over Kendrick Lamar diss track “Not Like Us”
A federal judge in New York tossed out a defamation lawsuit that Drake brought against Universal Music Group, ruling that lyrics branding the superstar as a pedophile in Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy-winning diss track “Not Like Us” were opinion.
Judge Jeannette A. Vargas on Thursday rejected the suit in a written opinion that began by citing “the vitriolic war of words” and saying the case arose “from perhaps the most infamous rap battle in the genre’s history.”
Filed in January, the lawsuit alleged that UMG published and promoted “Not Like Us” even though it included false pedophilia allegations against Drake and suggested listeners should resort to vigilante justice.
The lawsuit also alleged that the track tarnished his reputation and decreased the value of his brand.
Lamar was not named in the lawsuit.
Universal Music Group, the parent record label for both artists, had denied the allegations.
“From the outset, this suit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day,” a UMG spokesperson told CBS News in a statement Thursday. “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 spokesperson for Drake told CBS News in a statement, “We intend to appeal today’s ruling, and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it.”
CBS News has also reached out to representatives for Lamar for comment.
UMG owns both Interscope, Lamar’s label, and Republic Records, where Drake has spent his entire career.
In February, Drake reached a settlement with iHeartMedia in a separate court complaint filed in Texas over “Not Like Us.”
In that complaint, Drake alleged that iHeartMedia had received illegal payments from UMG to boost radio airplay for “Not Like Us.” iHeartMedia and UMG denied the allegations.
And in November 2024, Drake also filed a similar complaint in New York against streaming giant Spotify and UMG, accusing them of conspiring to inflate streams of “Not Like Us.” Both companies have also denied those claims.
Lamar and Drake have been beefing for years, with the two rappers releasing several diss tracks about one another. The feud appeared to reach its height when Lamar called out Drake during his Super Bowl Halftime Show in February.
In “Not Like Us,” which was released in May 2024, Lamar makes disturbing accusations about Drake allegedly having inappropriate conduct with minors. He also makes similar allegations about Drake’s friends and continues to question Drake’s talent.
In his own responding diss track, Drake denied these allegations, as well as allegations about having a daughter.
Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia has claimed that her ex Zach Bryan offered her “$12.9 million to sign away” her voice.
During the latest episode of the Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, the 26-year-old TV star shared how the split with Zach led her to join the reality show.
“I’m doing the course because I’ve had a really tough year,” said Brianna. “I was in a very public relationship. It ended really badly. I don’t really know exactly who I am, and it will teach me a lot about myself.”
The BFFs Podcast co-host further said, “Over the past couple years, I wasn’t allowed to be me. From what I’ve experienced, I think women get steamrolled a lot, and they get put in corners, I used to be very strong. I don’t want to give anyone power over me.”
“I really want to take control, and if I make it, it’s because I did it,” she added.
Talking about her relationship with the crooner, Brianna said, “I met my ex-boyfriend through Instagram DMs, like any regular person nowadays would.”
“It was a very fast-moving relationship where I should have seen a lot of red flags, but I was blinded by a lot of things,” the TV personality told her teammates.
“My ex is a super musician. He was awful towards me … He got famous on TikTok and thinks he’s God,” she added.
Brianna then claimed that Zach offered her $12.9 million when their relationship came to an end in October 2024.
“He offered me $12.9 million to sign away my voice,” she said.
“The people that followed me through this relationship watched me turn into just like a shell of a human. I just couldn’t let someone control how I feel and how I act anymore. In me not taking that money, I took control of myself back,” she added.
For those unversed, Brianna and Zach ended their relationship in October 2024. After the breakup, Brianna claimed that the Pink Skies hitmaker emotionally abused her.
Prince William reportedly plans to break with royal tradition by not living at Buckingham Palace when he becomes king.
Instead, the Prince of Wales will make Forest Lodge his family’s permanent home, reported Radar Online.
Unlike Queen Elizabeth II, who spent most of her reign at the palace, and following King Charles’ approach of using it mainly as an office, William intends to the palace for official duties.
Speaking with the publication, a source said William and Kate Middleton prefer a more grounded lifestyle for their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
“William believes the monarchy shouldn’t revolve around grand palaces anymore. He wants his children to stay grounded and aware of how ordinary families live,” the insider said.
“Forest Lodge is meant to be their permanent home, even after he becomes king,” they continued.
“It would really surprise people how normal life is in their household. The children set the table, clear up after meals, and help keep things tidy.
“They don’t get any special treatment – everyone’s expected to pitch in.”
They went on to note that the Buckingham Palace is a “workplace and huge office space now,” adding, “No one wants to live in their office – and William seems determined to reshape what royal family life looks like in today’s world.”
A senior royal aide said, “This move is meant to be permanent. It’s focused on creating a family home, not on building a royal empire.”
Jennifer Lopez transformed herself by losing significant weight for a role in the upcoming movie, Kiss Of The Spider Woman.
The Atlas star appeared in a recent interview with CBS Sunday Mornings, and revealed to host Gayle King that she got “very thin” for her character as she portrays a “blonde Hollywood bombshell” in the film produced by her ex husband, Ben Affleck’s company.
It is pertinent to mention that the shooting of the film took place in April 2024 which is also mentioned as her separation month in her divorce filing.
At the time fans speculated that she might have dropped weight due to the stress of her broken marriage.
A nutritionist named Monica Partier suggested that Lopez weighed 125 lbs during the filming of the movie, via DailyMail.
“Jennifer is 5ft5in, so I would put her at a size four, and I would say she got down to around 125lbs when she made the musical last year,” the functional nutritionist shared.
“Her normal weight appears to be 135lbs and a size six because she is so muscular from consistent workouts; muscle weighs more than fat,” said the health expert continued, That is a very healthy weight for her.”
“So she dropped at least 10lbs for the movie and she must have done it in about a month,” the nutritionist added.
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Brianna LaPaglia rejects $12.9M offer from Zach Bryan: ‘I won’t be silenced’
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