Report: Drake avoids deposition in XXX Tentacion murder case

Written by ABC Audio ALL RIGHTS RESERVED on February 15, 2023

A Florida judge has reportedly granted Drake‘s motion to avoid deposition in XXX Tentacion‘s murder case. TMZ reports Judge Michael Usan sided with arguments that the rapper was not connected to the case.

Drake’s name had never come up in discussions of XXX’s 2018 murder, but he was mentioned among a star-studded witness list submitted by defense attorney Mauricio Padilla. Padilla argued that officers insufficiently investigated Drake, who allegedly had a feud with XXX, and his possible connection to the murder. Padilla attempted to have Drizzy face deposition on January 27, and later requested the court order his appearance after the rapper didn’t show up.

The court ordered Drake to appear for a deposition on February 24, prompting his attorney Bradford Cohen to file a motion in an attempt to overturn the ruling. Per Billboard, Cohen argued in the filing that it was unreasonable to require the rapper’s appearance when “no evidence has been provided to substantiate the assertion that the [Drake] in any way contributed to, had knowledge of, or participated in the alleged incident.”

Cohen also shared his belief that Drake’s required presence “is less for the purpose of discovering relevant evidence and testimony, but instead [to] add more layers of celebrity and notoriety to a tragic and unfortunate event.”

The subpoena requiring Drake to face deposition has since been voided.

XXX Tentacion was murdered June 18, 2018 in an apparent attempted robbery outside RIVA Motorsports in Deerfield Beach, Florida. Robert Allen pleaded guilty to to second-degree murder charges in connection with the murder, while fellow suspects Dedrick Williams, Trayvon Newsomeand Michael Boatwright are standing trial.