Drake Unfollows LeBron James and Kendrick Lamar, Fueling Speculation Over NBA Star and Music Feud
4 min read
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As the 2024 NBA season approaches, an unexpected development has emerged between basketball superstar LeBron James and rapper Drake, signaling a possible rift in their long-standing friendship. On October 1, 2024, fans noticed that Drake, who had been a loyal supporter of LeBron for years, unfollowed the NBA legend on Instagram, along with several other high-profile figures, sparking widespread speculation online.
The two stars, who have shared numerous moments of camaraderie over the years—whether through Drake’s appearances at LeBron’s games or their interactions on the show The Shop—now seem to be at odds. A fan first pointed out the change on X (formerly Twitter), revealing that while LeBron still follows Drake, the rapper has cut ties on social media.
Drake’s Social Media Clean-up: More Than Just LeBron?
Drake’s decision to unfollow LeBron appears to be part of a broader Instagram clean-up. Alongside LeBron, Drake also unfollowed other big names in the entertainment world, including rapper Kendrick Lamar, DJ Metro Boomin, Joe Budden, and NBA player DeMar DeRozan. Each of these unfollows aligns with past beefs or tensions between Drake and these personalities. For example, Metro Boomin was at the center of a controversy that sparked Drake’s latest feud, while DeRozan participated in Kendrick Lamar’s “Pop Out” performance, which featured diss tracks aimed at the rapper.
Drake has just unfollowed Lebron James on IG but Lebron still follows him 😭 pic.twitter.com/1ztntz7ThX
— ryan 🤿 (@scubaryan_) October 1, 2024
Interestingly, Kendrick Lamar’s unfollow seemed long overdue, considering the long-running rivalry between him and Drake. The beef between the two hip-hop giants escalated earlier this year during the NBA Playoffs when Kendrick dropped a series of diss tracks, and LeBron was seen openly enjoying them, seemingly picking a side.
Fans React: LeBron’s Support for Kendrick Lamar Fuels Speculation
Fans quickly speculated that LeBron’s attendance at a Kendrick Lamar concert in Los Angeles, and his visible support for Lamar’s diss tracks aimed at Drake, played a significant role in the rapper’s decision to sever ties. During the Juneteenth event, LeBron was caught on camera vibing to Kendrick’s track “Not Like Us,” a song that many interpret as a direct diss toward Drake.
Drake’s social media snub comes on the heels of another notable moment earlier in 2024, when he chose not to include LeBron in a series of shoutouts to NBA players during the Paris Olympics. At that time, Drake publicly supported Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and others, but noticeably omitted LeBron, leaving fans to speculate that the tension had been brewing for months.
We know the reason 💀 pic.twitter.com/1PKiCnYhyj
— SUAREZ (@suayrez) October 1, 2024
Is Diddy Involved in the Beef?
Another theory making rounds is that the unfollowing might be linked to LeBron’s association with music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. Some fans pointed to past rumors suggesting that Drake and Diddy have a complicated history, and LeBron’s close connection to Diddy may have further strained his relationship with the “6 God.”
Drake’s Other Unfollows: The Playboi Carti Question
While Drake’s unfollowing of Kendrick Lamar and LeBron seems logical given their recent interactions, the inclusion of Playboi Carti raised eyebrows. Drake and Carti have collaborated in the past, including on the song “No Face.” However, Carti’s recent antics, such as mocking popular streamer Adin Ross (with whom Drake has a positive relationship) and his connection to The Weeknd—one of Drake’s longtime rivals—may have soured their friendship.
Despite the unfollow, it’s unclear whether the situation between Drake and LeBron will escalate further. Fans are split in their reactions, with some dismissing it as typical celebrity drama, while others see it as a significant fallout. The NBA community, particularly those who followed both LeBron and Drake’s relationship over the years, continue to speculate on whether the rapper’s decision stems from LeBron’s involvement in Kendrick Lamar’s ongoing feud with him or if it’s tied to other unseen tensions.
As the 2024 NBA season gets underway, fans are left wondering whether this social media move is just the beginning of a bigger story. Will LeBron and Drake patch things up, or has the friendship that once seemed solid finally reached its breaking point? Only time will tell.
Shivam Kumar
Hi, I'm Shivam Kumar. I'm pursuing Journalism honors from the IP University. I love the skill of writing and looking forward to learn more of it. Also I love traveling and experiencing new things every day....
