<p id=”par-1_66″>Kendrick Lamar stoked the fires of his <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/fans-react-worlds-biggest-hater-kendrick-lamars-halftime-performance.html/”>feud against Drake during Super Bowl LIX</a>. The rapper came swinging with “Not Like Us,” which also <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/drakes-dad-care-kendrick-lamar-winning-5-grammys-dissing-son.html/”>won five Grammy Awards</a>. Conan O’Brien then took the joke a step further by mentioning it during the 97th Annual <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/academy-awards/?swcfpc=1″>Academy Awards</a>. However, insiders alleged that ABC and the Academy fought against O’Brien using the joke as the host of the event.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-abc-and-the-academy-awards-allegedly-didn-t-want-conan-o-brien-to-joke-about-kendrick-lamar-and-drake-s-feud”>ABC and the Academy Awards allegedly didn’t want Conan O’Brien to joke about Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s feud</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Kendrick-Lamar.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Kendrick Lamar during the Super Bowl LIX halftime Show. He has his hands by his waist and is surrounded by dancers wearing red, white, and blue.” class=”wp-image-3784118″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Kendrick Lamar performs during the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans | Timothy A. Clary/AFP</figcaption></figure>
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<p id=”par-2_66″>Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s feud became well-known among music fans in 2024. And those who weren’t aware of the feud learned about it during Super Bowl LIX, as Lamar sang “Not Like Us” during the halftime show — his diss track against Drake. <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/drakes-record-label-called-not-like-us-legal-action-offensive-absurd.html/”>“Not Like Us” is not at the center of a defamation case</a> started by Drake against his parent record label, Universal Music Group.</p>
<p id=”par-3_67″>Host Conan O’Brien didn’t hold back during the 97th Annual Academy Awards. About halfway through the show, he made a well-timed joke about the feud between the two rappers. “We’re halfway through the show, which means it’s time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile,” he said, which caused the crowd to erupt in laughter. “Don’t worry, I’m lawyered up,” he continued. </p>
<p id=”par-4_39″>Comedian and writer Skyler Higley wrote O’Brien’s joke and took to <a href=”https://x.com/skyler_higley/status/1896385788050559478?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1896385788050559478%7Ctwgr%5E7c12e3a8fad4a6837ba5f4be2a3f7687397ab404%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Few.com%2Fembed%3Furl%3Dhttps3A2F2Fx.com2Fskyler_higley2Fstatus2F1896385788050559478id%3Dmntl-sc-block_9-0-iframeoptions%3De303DdocId%3D11689619″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>X</a> to announce that he won a bet. “Wrote the Kendrick Lamar joke and bet our executive producer $50 that it would kill. Just made $50,” he posted.</p>
<p id=”par-5_57″>While viewers laughed, a source told <a href=”https://www.tmz.com/2025/03/03/conan-obrien-kendrick-lamar-drake-almost-cut-oscars-kym-whitley/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>TMZ</a> that ABC and the Academy pushed against allowing O’Brien to tell the joke on stage. The publication notes that executives worried about the crowd’s potential reaction. However, one particular producer fought for the joke to stay. Thankfully, the joke was well-received, with fans and celebrities giggling in their seats. </p>
<p id=”par-6_13″><em>For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, follow </em><a href=”https://www.instagram.com/showbizcheatsheet/”><em>Showbiz Cheat Sheet’s Instagram</em></a>.</p>