Photographer Withdraws Lawsuit Against Drake Over Alleged Copyright Infringement in Music Video
An Italian photographer has withdrawn a lawsuit against Drake, claiming that the music video for his song "What Did I Miss?" copied a motif from his book. The lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, indicating that it cannot be reopened. It is unclear if a settlement was reached between the parties. The scene in question from the music video resembled a photo from Gabriele Galimberti's book "The Ameriguns," showing men surrounded by firearms near swimming pools.
Galimberti, known for his work with National Geographic, previously faced controversy for a Balenciaga campaign featuring children with sexually explicit objects. The photographer alleged that Drake intentionally copied his work in the music video to address the aftermath of a feud with Kendrick Lamar. Lamar had called Drake a "certified pedophile" in a diss track, leading Drake to sue Universal Music Group for defamation. However, Drake's defamation lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge who deemed the lyrics as hyperbole.
The lawsuit against Drake, Republic Records, and Universal Music Group sought financial damages for copyright infringement but was ultimately dropped. Drake is currently appealing to revive the case against UMG. The parties involved have not provided further comments on the matter.