Drake has addressed comments regarding his relationship with Millie Bobby Brown.
The ‘God’s Plan’ rapper, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, is one of the world’s biggest musicians, having more Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles than any other rapper and five Grammys.
Although he’s had a successful music career, it hasn’t been without its controversies.
His age-gap friendship with Stranger Things star Brown has come under scrutiny, and recently, he addressed the criticism.
Brown, now 20, reportedly met Drake, now 37, for the first time when he invited her to his Brisbane concert in 2017, with the duo both sharing photos of their meeting on social media.
At the time, she was 14 years old while the rapper was 32.
In an interview with W Magazine, the Enola Holmes star spoke about her unlikely friendship with the ‘One Dance’ singer.
She said: “We text all the time now. He helps me with everything, just life lessons. He’s amazing. He’s a great human being.”
As a teenager, Drake worked on the teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation so it’s understandable he would have some helpful advice for Brown, who also found herself in the entertainment industry at a young age.
In another interview with Access Hollywood, Brown shared further information about her friendship with Drake, revealing they had been texting over how much they missed each other.
The actress said (via BuzzFeed): “We just texted each other the other day and he was like, ‘I miss you so much.’ I was like, ‘I miss you more!’”
When asked what else they talk about, Brown replied: “About boys, he helps me! He’s great, he’s wonderful, I love him.”
Then, when pressed for further information about their chats, she responded: “Y’know, that stays in the text messages.”
Later, Brown seemingly addressed the backlash regarding their friendship in statements she shared to her Instagram story, as per screenshots shared by Cosmopolitan.
She reportedly wrote: “Why u gotta make a lovely friendship ur headline? U guys are weird… For real. I’m lucky to have people in the business extend their time to help me further my career and offer their wisdom and guidance.
“I’m very blessed to have amazing people in my life. U don’t get to choose that for me. It’s nice to have people understand what I do. Now get back to talking about real problems in this world other than my friendships… jeez.”
After it was revealed the pair had struck up an unlikely friendship, people reacted on social media, with one person writing: “A grown man having a text a teen mentorship program is odd no matter how you slice it.”
Opposing this viewpoint, another argued: “I don’t see anything wrong here. Could be friendship, a mentor, even some siblings have that age difference.”
“Y’all make it sound creepy and weird. Nothing wrong with teenagers being friends with adults,” somebody else weighed in.
In his 2023 song ‘Another Late Night,’ Drake addresses the criticism regarding his friendship with Brown.
On the track, he raps: “Weirdos in my comments talkin’ ‘bout some Millie Bobby, look/Bring them jokes up to the gang, we get to really flockin’.
“Or send a finger to your mama in some FedEx boxes/Open up that s***, it’s jaw droppin’, really shockin’.”
Debates over Drake and Brown’s friendship rose again amid the rapper’s beef with Kendrick Lamar.
He and Lamar were reportedly on friendly terms in 2011 but have been at odds since 2013, reports The Independent.
Yet things between the pair reached new heights in May 2024, with the rappers releasing diss tracks within minutes of each other.
In his song ‘Not Like Us,’ Lamar makes multiple references to Drake’s alleged interactions with younger women.
He raps: “Say, Drake, I hear you like ’em young. You better not ever go to cell block one.”
He also warns any women interested in Drake to ‘just make sure you hide your lil’ sister from him.’
Although Lamar never mentioned Brown by name, Drake referenced the Netflix star in his diss track ‘The Heart Part 6.’
Addressing Lamar’s allegations, Drake raps: “I never been with no one underage but now I understand why this the angle that you really mess with.”
Elsewhere in the track, he adds: “Only f***in’ with Whitneys, not Millie Bobby Browns. I’d never look twice at no teenager.”
It is unclear whether Drake and Millie Bobby Brown are still friends.
