Music Charts, Media Ethics at Stake in Drake, Williams Lawsuits

Kendrick Lamar's 'GNX' cover art. Released days before Drake's lawsuit against Universal Music Group for allegedly manipulating streaming charts, the album has further fueled the rappers' rivalry.

Drake is pursuing legal action against Universal Music Group and Spotify, accusing them of rigging streaming charts, while Wendy Williams challenges Lifetime over an allegedly exploitative documentary. Here is the latest on these celebrity legal disputes.

On Monday, Drake, through his company Frozen Moments LLC, filed a lawsuit in New York against UMG and Spotify. He alleges that UMG and Spotify manipulated streaming charts to boost Kendrick Lamar's diss track, "Not Like Us," at the expense of his album, "Certified Lover Boy." According to the lawsuit, UMG and Spotify utilized automated bots, payola, and Siri redirection to artificially increase Lamar's streams while undermining Drake's position on the charts.

Specifically, Drake claims that bots were deployed to inflate Lamar's streaming metrics, falsely inflating popularity. He also alleges that UMG engaged in payola — bribing for airplay and favorable streaming placements. Furthermore, Drake asserts that UMG collaborated with Apple to redirect Siri search results for "Certified Lover Boy" to Lamar's track, leading to significant misrepresentation of streaming activity. Entertainment lawyer Peter Paterno told Variety, "This case strikes at the heart of how we measure success... If streaming numbers can be manipulated so easily, it undermines the entire concept of fair competition."

UMG has vehemently denied these accusations. "The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is absurd," a UMG spokesperson said. "We believe the courts will dismiss these claims." UMG has insisted that all promotional activities were conducted ethically and legally.

Drake also appeared on Canadian streamer xQc's Kick channel on Monday, where he accused Lamar of spreading "fairytales" through his diss tracks. During the stream, he also criticized Steve Lacy and The Weeknd, which generated considerable social media buzz.

Lamar's surprise album, "GNX," which dropped last week to widespread acclaim, features more not-so-subtle jabs at Drake. Reacting to Drake's recent accusations and online commentary, Lamar himself responded with a succinct "He trippin'?!", in a text exchange with rapper and producer Reli, shared on pgLang's Instagram.

Meanwhile, Wendy Williams is engaged in her own legal battle. On Nov. 12, her guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, filed a lawsuit against Lifetime, A&E Television Networks, EOne Productions, Creature Films, and executive producer Mark Ford, accusing them of exploiting Williams' deteriorating health in the documentary "Where Is Wendy Williams?" According to Morrissey, Williams, now 60, suffers from primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, conditions that have left her "cognitively impaired, permanently disabled, and incapacitated." Since May 2022, Williams has been under court-ordered guardianship due to concerns about her well-being.

OH NO 🙏🏽| Wendy Williams’s legal guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, revealed in a recent court filing that the legendary talk show host is now “permanently incapacitated,” from her on-going battle with frontotemporal dementia and primary progressive aphasia. pic.twitter.com/E0BctPPtxK

— KenBarbie™ (@itsKenBarbie) November 26, 2024

The lawsuit contends that the documentary's producers took advantage of Williams' vulnerability when she was "clearly incapable of consenting to be filmed." Morrissey has also requested the court to redact details of Williams' health, familial relationships, and finances from the public record to protect her privacy. The defendants have denied the accusations, asserting that they had obtained Williams' consent prior to her decline in health and before the guardianship was in place. They claim Morrissey is attempting to deflect blame for her own alleged failures in protecting Williams. Both sides have requested a trial, which is expected to last between two to four weeks.

Williams, who hosted "The Wendy Williams Show" from 2008 to 2022, has faced numerous health issues, including Graves' disease, lymphedema, and struggles with substance addiction. The ongoing legal case has ignited debate about the ethics of exploiting vulnerable public figures for entertainment, drawing widespread attention within the industry.