Hip Hop/ Rap
Drake ‘What Did I Miss?’ Video Lawsuit Dropped as Photographer Walks Away for Good
Beyond copyright concerns, the lawsuit stood out for its cultural context. Gabriele Galimberti is widely known for his controversial 2022 Balenciaga campaign, which sparked global backlash after featuring children alongside sexually suggestive objects.
Drake’s growing list of legal entanglements has taken an unexpected turn. An Italian photographer who accused the rapper of copying a signature image in the music video for his 2025 hit “What Did I Miss?” has officially dropped his lawsuit, bringing the copyright dispute to a sudden and permanent end.
According to court documents filed on January 20, photographer Gabriele Galimberti dismissed his copyright claims with prejudice, meaning the case cannot be refiled in the future. The filing did not reveal whether a financial settlement was reached, and representatives for both Galimberti and Drake declined to comment.
Inside the Copyright Allegations
Gabriele Galimberti initially sued Drake, born Aubrey Drake Graham, in November 2025, claiming the rapper lifted a key visual motif from his 2020 photography book The Ameriguns. The lawsuit focused on a scene in the “What Did I Miss?” video that depicts men standing outside suburban homes, surrounded by neatly arranged firearms laid out around swimming pools.
Galimberti argued the imagery was “substantially similar” to one of his original photographs and constituted copyright infringement. The video debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, amplifying the stakes of the dispute and drawing widespread industry attention.
Why the Lawsuit Drew Extra Scrutiny
Beyond copyright concerns, the lawsuit stood out for its cultural context. Gabriele Galimberti is widely known for his controversial 2022 Balenciaga campaign, which sparked global backlash after featuring children alongside sexually suggestive objects. The photographer referenced that controversy in his lawsuit, claiming Drake intentionally echoed his imagery to suggest eventual public exoneration.
Gabriele Galimberti photographer behind Balenciaga’s 2022 ad campaign, for which they had to apologise
The claim was tied to Drake’s high-profile feud with Kendrick Lamar, which culminated in Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” where the rapper labeled Drake a “certified pedophile.” Drake responded by filing a defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), which was later dismissed by a federal judge who ruled rap lyrics constitute hyperbolic expression rather than factual claims.
Legal Dominoes Continue to Fall
While Galimberti’s lawsuit is now closed, Drake’s broader legal saga is far from over.The rapper is currently appealing the dismissal of his defamation case against UMG, which owns both his label, Republic Records, and Kendrick Lamar’s label, Interscope Records.
UMG and Republic were also named as defendants in Galimberti’s copyright suit, which sought monetary damages before being dropped. No statements have been issued by the label regarding the dismissal.
The lawsuit’s dismissal removes a potentially damaging legal distraction for Drake at a moment when his music, public image, and legal strategy are under intense scrutiny. With What Did I Miss? continuing to perform strongly and no ruling on the merits of the copyright claim, the case ends without clear winners—or answers.
For now, one question remains fittingly unresolved: what really was missed?
