A video showing NBA star LeBron James dancing at a Kendrick Lamar concert recently went viral, sparking widespread attention and confusion. The footage, circulating online since June 2025, falsely claims LeBron was at Lamar’s Toronto concert, though the truth reveals a different event entirely.
Clarifying the Origin of the Viral LeBron James Concert Footage
The video, posted on June 13, 2025, by TheNBACentel on X, asserts that LeBron James was attending Kendrick Lamar’s concert in Toronto. However, this claim is incorrect. The clip was actually recorded during Lamar’s 2022 Big Steppers Tour in Vancouver. At that time, LeBron was accompanied by his wife, Savannah, confirming his absence from the Toronto event.
The viral video’s authenticity was further called into question since it was shared by a parody account disclaimed as not affiliated with TheDunkCentral. This detail underscores that the footage does not reflect LeBron’s presence at the Toronto show.
LeBron James’ Connection to Drake and Kendrick Lamar Amid Ongoing Feud
LeBron has longstanding ties with Drake, frequently attending each other’s events before the rapper’s public feud with Kendrick Lamar escalated. Notably, LeBron was spotted at Lamar’s Pop Out concert in June 2024, amid rising tensions between the two artists. This was significant because Lamar’s set included a diss track targeting Drake, titled Not Like Us.
The visibility of LeBron enjoying Lamar’s performance reportedly led to Drake unfollowing the NBA star on social media, signaling strain in their once close relationship.
Controversy Over Drake’s Alleged Messages About LeBron James
On January 7, 2025, designer Chris Blake Griffith leaked screenshots of a purported Instagram conversation with Drake, where the rapper allegedly compared his struggles with Universal Music Group to rumors about LeBron James’ personal life. In one message, Drake purportedly wrote:
“Me and Universal is like if Nike was funding a campaign about LeBron cheating on his wife…not adidas or Reebok…Nike the company he been with since he started… my situation is not no street sh*t,” —drake, rapper
This leak emerged days before Drake filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Lamar’s diss track Not Like Us, accusing the company and Spotify of manipulating streaming platforms to artificially inflate the track’s popularity. Drake further alleged that Universal engaged in pay-to-play schemes involving iHeartRadio to promote the song.
DJ Akademiks Challenges the Authenticity of the Leaked Messages
Following the leak, DJ Akademiks, a known Drake supporter, dismissed the credibility of the screenshots on January 8, 2025, stating:
“This is a fake DM. Drake called buddy a Rat….. he got mad and made up some fake DM to try to make the blogs and go viral. end of story.” —DJ Akademiks, media personality
Akademiks also referenced THE BOY as his information source, implying that Drake requested assistance in discrediting the messages, adding to the mystery surrounding the leaked texts.
LeBron James’ Subtle Support for Kendrick Lamar During the Rift
While LeBron James has not publicly addressed the feud between Drake and Lamar, he showed indirect support by sharing an Instagram Story in February 2025 celebrating Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show. This gesture indicated his alignment with Lamar during this contentious period in the music world.
The viral spread of the dancing video and associated rumors highlights the degree to which social media can quickly distort contexts around celebrities. LeBron’s involvement, whether real or misconstrued, reflects ongoing public fascination amid one of hip-hop’s most notable disputes.