Drake’s usage of a photo of Halle Berry being slimed at the 2012 Kids’ Choice Awards has taken another turn, with the rapper claiming the Oscar-winning actress initially gave her permission.
Both Drake, 36, and SZA, 33, shared the photo of Berry, 57, covered in green slime, on their Instagrams simultaneously last Thursday.
It was later revealed that was the official cover art for the new single Slime You Out, which is from his forthcoming album For All The Dogs, due out October 6.
Berry blasted Drake in an Instagram comment, where she stated, ‘he asked me and i said NO. Why ask if you intend to do what you want to do ! That was the f***k you to me. Not cool.’
Now Drake is firing back, with a spokesperson for the rapper telling EW that Berry initially gave her permission to use the image, if it wasn’t to be used for ‘promotional purposes.’
Another turn: Drake’s usage of a photo of Halle Berry being slimed at the 2012 Kids’ Choice Awards has taken another turn, with the rapper claiming the Oscar-winning actress initially gave her permission
Blasted: Berry blasted Drake in an Instagram comment, where she stated, ‘he asked me and i said NO. Why ask if you intend to do what you want to do ! That was the f***k you to me. Not cool’
Initially: Now Drake is firing back, with a spokesperson for the rapper telling EW that Berry initially gave her permission to use the image, if it wasn’t to be used for ‘promotional purposes’
‘Halle at first stated he can use her photo but then said no after further conversations because she assumed it was for his official cover art, which that wasn’t the case,’ Drake’s rep said in a statement.
The spokesperson added, ‘We have corrected things with Halle Berry and want everyone to move on.’
While both Drake and SZA’s post using Berry’s image remains on their respective Instagram pages, the artwork has been changed on various streaming platforms.
The single artwork is now the same artwork used for his full album which he revealed in August was a sketch of a dog by his five-year-old son Adonis, who he shares with rench artist Sophie Brussaux.
Berry’s comment also remains up on her Instagram, with a source refuting Drake’s statement, adding it was always a ‘no’ from her.
‘Halle’s direct comments on IG are absolutely true as it was a no across the board when she was approached,’ the source said.
Berry added in another Instagram comment, ‘He did have his people call my people and I said NO I didn’t like that image of slime all over my face in association with his song. And he chose to do it anyway! You see… that is the disrespect. Not cool!’
The rights to the 2012 photo belong to photographer Christopher Polk, who licensed the image to Getty Images.
First: ‘Halle at first stated he can use her photo but then said no after further conversations because she assumed it was for his official cover art, which that wasn’t the case,’ Drake’s rep said in a statement
Corrected: The spokesperson added, ‘We have corrected things with Halle Berry and want everyone to move on’
New artwork: The single artwork is now the same artwork used for his full album which he revealed in August was a sketch of a dog by his five-year-old son Adonis, who he shares with rench artist Sophie Brussaux
Drake explains: EW also obtained screengrabs of Drake attempting to explain the situation to one of his representatives in a DM
However, the image’s Getty listing reveals that Drake would need Berry’s permission to use the image for promotional purposes like being the artwork for a new single.
EW also obtained screengrabs of Drake attempting to explain the situation to one of his representatives in a DM.
‘I did dm Halle Berry and got her permission, she said no. I went to the company and we got [their] permission but I love Halle Berry and this has been taken out of context,’ Drake said in the message.
He added, ‘What we should be focused on is the new album and my record and the executive producer of Slime You Out [DJ Prince] who is fighting cancer. Let’s keep it positive.’
