Weeks into XXXTentacion murder trial, judge rules that Drake won’t have to testify

After days of legal limbo, internationally acclaimed rapper Drake will no longer have to testify in the XXXTentacion murder trial, Broward judge Michael Usan ruled Monday. Defense lawyers, however, are still trying to get the rapper to sit through a deposition on Feb. 24.

Drake’s lawyers have argued that his appearance would place “an unreasonable and oppressive burden” on the Canadian rapper and would add “more layers of celebrity and notoriety to a tragic and unfortunate event.”

On Thursday, Usan threatened Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, with a contempt charge if he didn’t show up for a deposition in the trial of three men accused of robbing and murdering XXXTentacion, a South Florida rapper who was an emerging star until his death in 2018.

“No evidence has been provided to substantiate the assertion that [Drake] in any way contributed to, had knowledge of, or participated in the alleged incident,” Drake’s attorney Bradford M. Cohen wrote. “...To mandate that he appear for deposition for something that he very clearly has no relevant knowledge of is unreasonable.”

READ MORE: Florida judge warns rapper Drake to show up for deposition in XXXTentacion murder trial

Defense attorney Mauricio Padilla, who represents defendant Dedrick Williams, had tried to get Drake on the stand for weeks, pointing to a feud between the two rappers. However, Drake — one of the biggest names in hip-hop — missed a deposition scheduled for Jan. 27.

The social media beef between Drake and XXXTentacion, whose real name was Jahseh Onfroy, had the internet buzzing with unsubstantiated conspiracy theories linking Drake to the South Florida rapper’s killing.

A month before his death, XXXTentacion referenced Drake in an ominous Instagram post: “if anyone tries to kill me it was @champagnepapi.” The rapper later claimed his account was hacked.

READ MORE: Drake, other rappers listed as potential witnesses in XXXTentacion Florida murder case

As it stands, no evidence has connected Drake to the murder other than him being added to the witness list in December, as first reported by the Miami Herald.

READ MORE: Rapper XXXTentacion was robbed and gunned down in 2018. What to know about the trial

This story was originally published February 14, 2023 at 4:40 PM.

Grethel Aguila

Miami Herald

Grethel covers courts and the criminal justice system for the Miami Herald. She graduated from the University of Florida (Go Gators!), speaks Spanish and Arabic and loves animals, traveling, basketball and good storytelling. Grethel also attends law school part time.