Drake & Millie Bobby Brown's Friendship: A Timeline

Clay Schaefer 28 May 2025

What happens when the lines between mentorship and manipulation blur in the dazzling world of celebrity? The relationship between rapper Drake and actress Millie Bobby Brown has sparked years of debate, raising uncomfortable questions about power dynamics and appropriate behavior when a significant age gap exists.

The controversy ignited in 2018 when a then-14-year-old Brown casually mentioned in an interview that she and 31-year-old Drake exchanged text messages, with the rapper offering her advice on navigating the complexities of teenage romance. While Brown insisted their bond was purely platonic, the considerable age difference Drake being more than twice her age immediately drew criticism and sparked accusations of grooming. The internet, ever vigilant, erupted in a firestorm of speculation and concern. Was this a harmless friendship, or something more sinister? The narrative surrounding their relationship has been fraught with tension ever since.

Name:	Aubrey Drake Graham
Date of Birth:	October 24, 1986
Occupation:	Rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, businessman
Notable Works:	"Take Care," "Nothing Was the Same," "Views," "Scorpion," "Certified Lover Boy"
Career Highlights:	Multiple Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and other accolades; Global ambassador for the Toronto Raptors
Reference:	Biography.com

The unease surrounding their interactions was further fueled by Browns subsequent public statements, which, while intended to downplay concerns, often seemed to exacerbate them. She described Drake as a great friend and a great role model, a characterization that many found jarring given the power imbalance inherent in their relationship. The optics of a global superstar texting a young teenager about boys, regardless of the content of those messages, struck many as inappropriate, even if no concrete evidence of wrongdoing existed.

Adding fuel to the fire, old photographs of Drake and Brown posing together resurfaced on social media, further intensifying the scrutiny. These images, though seemingly innocuous on the surface, became symbolic of the broader concerns surrounding their relationship the perceived vulnerability of a young star in the presence of a much older, more powerful figure within the entertainment industry.

The controversy reached a fever pitch when Kendrick Lamar seemingly referenced the situation during his Super Bowl halftime show performance. While not explicitly naming Drake, Lamar's lyrics about inappropriate relationships with younger girls were widely interpreted as a thinly veiled criticism of the rappers interactions with Brown and other young female artists. This public condemnation further cemented the narrative surrounding Drake's alleged predilection for younger women, reigniting the debate surrounding his friendship with Brown.

Drake eventually addressed the backlash in his music, denying any inappropriate behavior and criticizing those who questioned his relationship with Brown. He maintained that their connection was purely platonic, born out of mutual respect and admiration for each others work. However, these pronouncements did little to quell the ongoing controversy, with many arguing that his defense missed the point entirely.

The core issue, critics argued, was not necessarily about proving any explicit wrongdoing, but rather about the inherent power dynamic between a young, impressionable star and a much older, established figure. The appropriateness of such a relationship, regardless of its platonic nature, remained a point of contention. The fact that Brown has remained largely silent on the issue since 2018, while Drake has mentioned her in his music, adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing saga.

The Drake and Millie Bobby Brown controversy highlights the delicate balance between mentorship and manipulation in the entertainment industry. It serves as a stark reminder of the potential for power imbalances and the importance of safeguarding young stars from potentially exploitative situations. While the truth behind their relationship remains shrouded in speculation, one thing is certain: the conversation surrounding appropriate behavior between adults and minors in positions of power is far from over.

The questions remain: Where do we draw the line between friendly advice and inappropriate influence? How can we ensure that young stars are protected from potential exploitation within the entertainment industry? And ultimately, what responsibility do we, as consumers of celebrity culture, bear in perpetuating or challenging these power dynamics?