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It’s been a little while since Drake publicly did or said something problematic, but he needs attention for his new single, so it looks like we’re right on schedule. Drake just released the first single off of his upcoming “For All the Dogs” album. The single is a collaboration with SZA called “Slime You Out.” The cover artwork is of Halle Berry getting slimed at the 2012 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. This was news to Berry, who called Drake out via Instagram for using the image without her permission.

Halle Berry is speaking out briefly about Drake’s new single cover for “Slime You Out.”

The rapper released his new song, which marks his first collaboration with SZA and is the first from his upcoming album For All the Dogs, on Friday. The cover of the single features an image of Berry getting slimed at the 2012 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.

Drake and SZA posted the same single cover on their respective Instagram accounts on Wednesday, teasing their upcoming collab without outright saying what it would be or when it would come.

Berry shared an Instagram post after the single was released of a pink square with the words “Sometimes you have to be the bigger guy … even if you’re a woman!” on it. In the comment section, an artist who goes by “slicartist” asked the actress what her thoughts were about Drake using the photo of her for the single.

“Didn’t get my permission,” she wrote. “That’s not cool I thought better of him !” She then followed up that comment with another one, adding, “hence my post today. When people you admire disappoint you, you have to be the bigger person and move on !”

[From The Hollywood Report]

In the comments, someone pointed out that the picture in question is owned by Getty Images, so technically, Drake didn’t need to ask Berry for permission. Berry responded by sharing that Drake did ask her and she had told him no, explaining, “Why ask if you intend to do what you want to do! That was the f– you to me. Not cool. You get it?” Lovely.

Even if Drake’s team bought the image to use legally, it’s still messed up that he used it anyway. Berry also clarified in the comments that she wasn’t interested in suing Drake over it, but just “wished these men out here would give women the respect we deserve.” I saw some Drake defenders on the Artist Formerly Known as Twitter snarking about how Berry should be grateful for the “free clout,” and it’s like…she’s Halle-F’ing-Berry. She doesn’t need free clout, you idiots. If anything, Drake is using her for clout because now he’s in the news cycle and his name will always be associated with Academy Award Winner Halle Berry.

OH it gets worse 😭😭😭😭 so Drake ASKED Halle Berry for permission and she said no!!!!

— ☾ (@alexiswore) September 16, 2023

Clout?

Halle Berry is an Academy award winning actress whose films have grossed north of 2 billion dollars.

— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) September 16, 2023

Photos credit Getty and via Instagram