Birdman, the music mogul and founder of Cash Money Records, recently went off on Instagram comedian Druski in a heated online exchange. Their beef seemingly came out of nowhere, leading many fans to ask: what happened between Birdman and Druski to cause such animosity?
The Start of the Beef
The tensions between Birdman and Druski began in early October 2022 when Druski posted a parody video on his Instagram. The video showed Druski dressed up as Birdman, satirizing his style, mannerisms, and notable traits like wearing sunglasses indoors and kissing men on the lips. While presented as a harmless joke, Birdman clearly did not take it that way.
Druski’s Parody Video
In the video, Druski imitated Birdman’s deep voice and penchant for referring to himself in the third person. Playing an exaggerated version of Birdman, Druski joked about “Baby’s” wealth and business savvy in an over-the-top fashion. He referenced Birdman’s conflicts with Lil Wayne and accused Birdman of “stealing money” from artists. The impersonation was very mocking in tone.
While Druski’s fans found the parody funny and it racked up over 3 million views, Birdman was understandably upset over being publicly ridiculed in such an unflattering depiction.
Birdman’s Angry Response
Birdman waited two weeks but then lashed out against Druski in an angry Instagram story post on October 15, 2022. In the post, Birdman told Druski to “Suck my d***!!️” and said he had just “Put a bag” on Druski’s head, presumably threatening physical violence or retaliation.
Birdman also bragged about his wealth and success in the music industry as the CEO of Cash Money Records. He mentioned his $400 million net worth and catalog of hit records, using that status to look down on Druski as an unsigned comedian.
Why Birdman Was So Offended
There are a few reasons why Birdman had such a strong negative reaction to Druski’s parody:
Feeling Disrespected
Firstly, Birdman likely felt deeply disrespected by Druski’s impersonation, which he saw as going too far in clowning him. Birdman has cultivated a serious, intense image over his music career. Having that undercut for laughs by an online comedian made Birdman feel belittled.
Invasion of Privacy
Druski’s parody also focused on some of Birdman’s most private traits like kissing men platonically. Bringing that to light in a humorous context felt like Druski exposing parts of Birdman’s life that he would prefer remain private.
Damaging His Brand
On a strategic level, Birdman saw Druski’s parody video as harmful to his brand’s image. The exaggerated impersonation portrayed Birdman in an unflattering light that he felt would undermine his business dealings and connections in the industry.
As a high-powered record executive, Birdman aims to cultivate an air of power and prestige. Druski’s parody threatened that public image, which likely explains Birdman’s swift and vicious response.
Druski’s Reaction
Druski was surprised at the intensity of Birdman’s reaction. On Twitter, he responded by saying “I thought Baby would laugh😂 I love you OG🙏🏾@Birdman5star.” Druski maintained all along that the parody video was just an innocent joke “for laughs” and that he had tremendous respect for Birdman’s career.
However, despite Druski’s apologies and explanations, Birdman continued his attacks in heated Instagram comments. At one point he told Druski to “stop playing with me lil boy.”
Attempted Apology
Druski did try to deescalate the feud by posting an apology video on October 16, 2022. In the clip, Druski said:
Nah, on a serious note, I apologize to Birdman. I mean no harm, I got love for you OG. It was all fun and games.
But Birdman dismissed the apology as insufficient and insincere in later posts, and continued to blast Druski for several more days.
Deleting the Parody Video
Under ongoing pressure from Birdman’s anger, Druski ended up deleting the original parody video from his Instagram account on October 18th. Unfortunately, this olive branch did not satisfy Birdman either, who insisted the damage was already done.
The Continued Fallout
In the weeks after Birdman’s initial attack, tensions continued to play out between the two online:
Birdman’s Persistent Criticism
Birdman has kept up a stream of posts taking shots at Druski, calling him “lame”, accusing him of using Birdman’s name for clout, and threatening to stomp on him.
Druski Maintains Distance
For his part, Druski has avoided engaging with or responding to Birdman’s comments. Druski seems eager to move on from the situation that has clearly impacted him emotionally.
Public Reaction
On social media, fan reactions have been mixed. Some side with Birdman feeling Druski crossed a line. But many others find Birdman’s response disproportionate and criticize him for bullying Druski, an unsigned artist with less wealth and power.
Date | Event |
---|---|
October 5, 2022 | Druski posts Birdman parody video |
October 15, 2022 | Birdman attacks Druski on Instagram |
October 16, 2022 | Druski apologizes in video |
October 18, 2022 | Druski deletes parody video |
Conclusion
The beef between Birdman and Druski provides an example of how parody and impersonation, even when light-hearted, can cross lines and lead to real conflict between celebrities. While Druski felt he was simply having fun, Birdman took personal offense to having his image undermined for laughs.
The power dynamics between an established music mogul and an up-and-coming online comedian further escalated tensions. Ultimately Druski faced significant fallout for a parody video that blew up in a way he never expected.
Moving forward, this incident serves as a lesson to tread carefully when using a celebrity’s identity for humor and parody. What may seem harmless fun on the surface can have unanticipated consequences.