Drake Speaks Out After OVO Fest After-Party Shooting

Drake is breaking his silence. Ten days after the fatal shooting in Toronto, the Canadian rapper is addressing the tragedy that occurred following an OVO Fest after-party.

Drake was hosting the event at Muzik nightclub following his sixth annual OVO Fest when two people were gunned down and three others were wounded. The double homicide remains unsolved.

In an open letter posted on his OVO blog, he reveals that he had conflicted feelings about how to broach the issue as a public figure, but ultimately decided to speak out.

“The last few days I have been in a moral bind,” he writes. “I am used to the fact that my life and the things I say to my fans are closely watched. It’s tough in situations like this where there’s a tragedy and I consider the advice of my trusted advisors and counsel who worry that anything I might say could be misinterpreted.”

He offers his condolences to the victims’ families and closes with a prayer for peace in his city: “We need each other to further our communities for generations to come. I pray for better times and better understanding.”

Drake was reportedly not in the club when the shooting started around 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 4 before spilling into the streets. According to the Toronto Star, Drake always planned to comment but didn’t want to “become the story” or shift the focus away from the victims.

You can read Drake’s letter in full below.

The last few days I have been in a moral bind.

I am used to the fact that my life and the things I say to my fans are‎ closely watched. It’s tough in situations like this where there’s a tragedy and I consider the advice of my trusted advisors and counsel who worry that anything I might say could be misinterpreted.

However, today I am choosing to follow my heart.

I am plagued and pained by the violence that continues to escalate in our city. I stare into the eyes of so many young people and I wish to see them all shine as bright as they possibly can in this lifetime. I encourage my generation to show as much value and gratitude as you can for the lives we have been gifted.

My deepest condolences go out to the Navarro-Fenoy and Hibbert families for their loss of Ariela and Duvel. Along with them I send my condolences to all of the families that have lost loved ones to the senseless violence that has and continues to occur in our city.

Although Toronto is globally viewed as a major city, at the core we are still a small close-knit community, and it is our public responsibility to ensure the safety and wellbeing of one another. We need each other to further our communities for generations to come.

I pray for better times and better understanding.

– DRAKE