Conan O'Brien's Oscars Joke About Kendrick Lamar Calling Drake a "Pedophile" Sparks Controversy

The 2025 Oscars ceremony was full of memorable moments, but one particular joke from host Conan O'Brien has caused quite a stir. During the broadcast, O'Brien made a quip about Kendrick Lamar labeling Drake as a "pedophile" on stage.

"We're halfway through the show, which means it's time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile," O'Brien said, adding "Don't worry, I'm lawyered up."

It turns out the writer behind this controversial joke was comedian Skyler Higley, who revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that he had bet the show's executive producer $50 that the joke would land well. "Wrote the Kendrick Lamar joke and bet our executive producer $50 that it would kill. just made $50," Higley posted.

The joke references the ongoing feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, which has taken a particularly nasty turn. Lamar recently performed at the Super Bowl Halftime Show, where he apparently took shots at Drake, referring to him as a "pedophile" in his song "Not Like Us."

Drake has since taken legal action against Universal Music Group over the promotion of Lamar's diss track, alleging the company is using illegal means to boost its success in an effort to devalue his brand amid contract negotiations.

The Oscars joke has divided opinion, with some finding the jab clever and others deeming it inappropriate. Regardless, it's clear the ongoing beef between two of hip-hop's biggest stars continues to captivate the public's attention.

As for the rest of the Oscars ceremony, it was a big night for the film Anora, which took home the award for Best Picture. Director Sean Baker and star Mikey Madison also won awards for their work on the critically acclaimed movie.

Other notable winners included The Brutalist, Wicked, Conclave, and more. It was certainly an eventful evening in Hollywood, one that will likely be remembered for Conan O'Brien's controversial Kendrick Lamar and Drake joke.