Drake made waves on social media after responding to Serena Williams’ cameo during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX performance.
On February 12, the Canadian artist used his burner Instagram account (@plottttwistttttt) to post a picture of himself with a woman, who at first glance appeared to be a random acquaintance. Upon closer inspection, the woman was identified as Jill Smoller, Williams’ longtime agent.
The photo dates back to 2015, when Drake was spotted at a tennis event supporting Serena Williams. The images show Drake interacting with Smoller, Venus Williams, and others while wearing the same outfit from the Instagram post, adding credibility to the photo’s authenticity.
Drake’s choice to share this image as a response to Williams’ appearance, instead of addressing Kendrick Lamar directly, left fans scratching their heads.
Many fans mocked Drake’s move, with comments like “A grown man said your name on a global stage but you got a rebuttal for the woman who was dancing.” Others called out the oddity of the situation, questioning why Drake would respond this way instead of confronting Lamar.
Despite the backlash, some Drake fans defended him, claiming that the rapper was unfazed by the comments and that his legal battle (which has been rumored to be in progress) would speak louder in the end.
Drake and Serena Williams were rumored to have dated in 2011, and their on-and-off relationship continued until 2015. The rapper has made several references to Williams in his music since their breakup, and it seems this post is just the latest in their ongoing saga.