BREAKING: Conan O’Brien Shocks Oscars 2025 Audience with Kendrick Lamar and Drake Feud Reference, Declaring: ‘We’re Halfway Through the Show, Which Means It’s Time for Kendrick Lamar to Come Out and Call Drake a Pedophile. Don’t Worry, I’m Lawyered Up’

Conan O’Brien Ignites Oscars Night with Kendrick Lamar-Drake Beef Joke: ‘I’m Lawyered Up’

March 03, 2025 – Hollywood, CA
The 97th Academy Awards took an unexpected detour into hip-hop territory last night, courtesy of host Conan O’Brien, who seized the midway point of the broadcast to deliver a biting, lawyer-vetted zinger that had the Dolby Theatre roaring—and social media ablaze. Halfway through a night celebrating cinematic excellence, O’Brien paused the proceedings to quip: “We’re halfway through the show, which means it’s time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile. Don’t worry, I’m lawyered up.” The line, a nod to the explosive, ongoing feud between the two rap titans, landed like a comedic grenade, blending Hollywood glitz with rap-world grit in a way only Conan could pull off.

O’Brien, hosting the Oscars for the first time since his late-night TV tenure ended, brought his signature irreverence to the prestigious event. Known for pushing boundaries, he didn’t shy away from dipping into one of the most talked-about rivalries in music. The Kendrick Lamar-Drake beef, which escalated dramatically in 2024 with diss tracks like Lamar’s “Not Like Us” and Drake’s “The Heart Part 6,” has dominated headlines and playlists alike. Lamar’s pointed accusation of Drake’s personal conduct—most notably the “pedophile” jab—became a cultural lightning rod, and O’Brien wasn’t about to let it slide past the Oscars’ radar.

As the audience erupted in a mix of gasps and laughter, cameras caught A-list reactions: Leonardo DiCaprio smirking, Zendaya raising an eyebrow, and a stone-faced Denzel Washington seemingly unimpressed. Backstage, producers reportedly held their breath, but O’Brien’s follow-up—“Don’t worry, I’m lawyered up”—reassured everyone that the legal team had signed off on the risky roast. “It’s the Oscars,” O’Brien later told reporters. “If you can’t take a swing at something everyone’s whispering about, what’s the point?”

The line didn’t just steal the show—it sparked instant debate. On X, posts ranged from “Conan just won the Oscars with one sentence” to “Too far, even for him.” Kendrick Lamar, who wasn’t in attendance but has a history of letting his music do the talking, hasn’t responded—at least not yet. Drake, meanwhile, was spotted at an afterparty hosted by Vanity Fair, brushing off questions about the jab with a laugh and a “Conan’s Conan” shrug. Sources close to the rapper say he’s unfazed, though fans speculate a lyrical clapback might still be in the works.

The Oscars moment wasn’t entirely out of left field. Kendrick and Drake’s feud had already bled into pop culture beyond music, with late-night hosts and comedians weighing in throughout 2024. But O’Brien, with his knack for turning awkwardness into hilarity, took it to a new level by weaving it into a night typically reserved for self-congratulation and montages. “Halfway through the show” became a meta gag, too—by that point, viewers had endured a lengthy In Memoriam segment and an interpretive dance tribute to Oppenheimer. Conan’s quip was a jolt of adrenaline, reminding everyone that the Oscars could still be unpredictable.

Critics of the joke argue it was a cheap shot, leaning on a sensitive accusation for shock value rather than cleverness. Supporters, however, hailed it as peak Conan: fearless, absurd, and perfectly timed. “He knows how to read a room—and then set it on fire,” said comedian Nikki Glaser on X. The Academy, for its part, hasn’t commented, though ratings suggest the moment gave the broadcast a much-needed boost after years of declining viewership.

As for Kendrick and Drake, their beef shows no signs of cooling. Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” with its incendiary lyrics and infectious beat, remains a streaming juggernaut, while Drake’s rebuttals have kept his OVO faithful rallying behind him. Whether O’Brien’s Oscars jab inspires a new chapter in their saga remains to be seen—perhaps a diss track titled “Oscar Night” is in the pipeline.

For now, Conan O’Brien has cemented his Oscars hosting debut as one for the books. “We’re halfway through the show, which means it’s time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile. Don’t worry, I’m lawyered up” might just go down as the most quoted line of the night, a testament to his ability to blend chaos and comedy on Hollywood’s biggest stage. As he grinned into the camera post-joke, it was clear: Conan didn’t just host the Oscars—he owned them.