2025 Oscars: Conan O'Brien spotlights Drake, Kendrick Lamar beef with Super Bowl LIX reference at Academy Awards

Three weeks after his performance at Super Bowl LIX, Kendrick Lamar is still having his halftime show referenced on the biggest stages.

During the 97th Academy Awards tonight in Hollywood, Conan O’Brien, the evening’s host, noted Lamar’s performance with the Oscars reaching the halfway point. He joked that it was about time to mention Drake in a nod to the viral song of “Not Like Us”.

Conan O'Brien at the #Oscars: "Well, we're halfway through the show, which means it's time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile." pic.twitter.com/KmbX3QjnlM

— Variety (@Variety) March 3, 2025

“Well, we’re halfway through the show, which means it’s time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile,” O’Brien jabbed. “Don’t worry. I’m lawyered up. Anyway!”

Lamar performed the halftime show at Super Bowl LIX back three weeks ago. It was a viral show considering all the aspects of it, specifically its continuation the feud between he and Drake.

Kendrick vs. Drake has found its way all over pop culture over the last year or so. That, over the past month, now includes sports and film respectively with the Super Bowl last month as well as the Oscars tonight.

Report: Halftime show of Super Bowl LIX lands 133.5 million viewers, most-watched in history

Kendrick Lamar made history at Super Bowl LIX.

On Super Bowl Sunday, Lamar’s halftime show broke the record for most-watched halftime in history as his concert garnered 133.5 million viewers according to Chart Data. That was a massive number for a performance that certainly hit the mark and had the public debating well after the game.

While the Super Bowl didn’t feature much of a game, the show by Lamar was certainly a spectacle.

However, one critic from the massive audience was sure to be Drake. The fellow rapper has been in a beef with Lamar over the past year with this being the latest blow – as he even completed the moment with a memeable smile as he rapped the lyric “Hey Drake” into the camera.

Additionally, Lamar brought out some special guests in New Orleans. SZA, Mustard, and Serena Williams were all involved in the performance while Samuel L. Jackson emceed the show.

All told, Kendrick Lamar’s performance was a history-making one and the ratings reflected that.