Key Points
- SZA says the beef stayed between Drake and Kendrick. She saw no reason to jump in at all.
- She notes love for Kendrick and respect for Drake. Her label ties made the choice feel more delicate.
- The talk comes in a fresh GQ magazine interview. She calls the clash sad but outside her business.
SZA (Solána Imani Rowe) has explained why she stayed out. The singer says the Kendrick Lamar and Drake dispute was theirs alone. She has long worked with Kendrick Lamar (Kendrick Lamar Duckworth) and Drake (Aubrey Drake Graham).
In a new GQ chat, she said the fight was private. It was between two grown men, so she did not step in. Her stance follows our recent coverage in the Drake lawsuit dismissal story.
Why SZA stayed out
She stressed there was no stake for her to claim. She loves Kendrick, respects Drake, and did not want crossfire. The label link to TDE also shaped that calm choice.
SZA said she has known Drake for years with warm rapport. Her work family sits with Kendrick through Top Dawg Entertainment. So she chose peace while both men traded sharp words.
She called the clash sad, even as fans asked for her voice. It felt like “two grown men,” she said in the chat. She prefers to keep friendships clear when public storms blow hard.
The wider backstory sits with this year’s lyrics and court beats. Drake later filed an appeal in New York over lyric claims. Catch our full Drake defamation appeal update for that timeline.
What fans wanted to hear
Many hoped she would pick a side during the fight. She thanked them for care, but stood firm on her lane. Her message was simple, calm, and rooted in long ties.
SZA and Kendrick first linked on the Black Panther hit “All the Stars.” She also joined Drake on “Slime You Out” in late 2023. Those ties make any public jab feel extra loaded for fans.
In the interview, she kept praise short and clear for both. She wished for calm while the culture debated every rhyme. No scorecards, no sides, just care for people she knows.
The stance also reflects a trend among peers this season. More artists keep bonds steady while online storms push division. They weigh brand health against clicks and try to protect ties.
For fans, her words close a small loop from that tense week. The beef moved on, and her choice stands on clear grounds. Her line stays simple, human, and free of extra heat.
GQ did not press for bar-by-bar takes, and she obliged. She kept to values, friendship, and her calm public tone. That clear stance may help cool rising fan fights next time.
