AceShowbiz - At the 97th Annual Oscars on March 2, 2025, Conan O'Brien, 61, took center stage as the host, delivering a controversial joke referencing the infamous feud between rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake.

O'Brien quipped, "We're halfway through the show, which means it's time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile." The joke alluded to Lamar's Super Bowl LIX halftime performance in February, during which he performed his Drake diss track "Not Like Us."

Skyler Higley, a writer for O'Brien and the mastermind behind the joke, addressed the joke on social media. "Wrote the Kendrick Lamar joke and bet our executive producer $50 that it would kill. Just made $50," Higley posted on X.

He further emphasized that the joke was meant to tap into the current cultural relevance of the feud and not as a personal attack on either artist.

Higley, who previously wrote for O'Brien's TBS talk show "Conan," addressed the backlash, stating, "The idea that it's being taken as a real call-out or taking sides in any way in the beef is absurd."

Higley's stance was echoed by Disney executive Rob Mills, who praised the joke's unexpected delivery, stating it was "great" and "fun."

During the live telecast, O'Brien assured the audience, "Don't worry, I'm lawyered up," poking fun at Drake's ongoing lawsuits over the diss song. Drake's legal battles have included a lawsuit against Universal Music Group.

Despite the polarizing reactions, O'Brien's hosting was well-received by attendees. Reflecting on his approach to his jokes, O'Brien told E! News, "There are times where you think, 'We've got a good joke here, but I'm not gonna do it. It doesn't feel right.' We made a lot of changes backstage."

The 2025 Oscars will be remembered not only for its glamorous celebration of cinema but also for O'Brien's daring approach to hosting, which spotlighted a significant cultural moment and did not shy away from controversies including the scandal surrounding its nominee Karla Sofia Gascon.