Drake's latest merchandise, which features a picture of Melyssa Ford used in his most recent goods release without her permission, has caused controversy. The former video vixen and co-host of The Joe Budden Podcast questioned why she wasn't notified or compensated for the usage of her image on a hoodie. The images of the merch went viral, and a user commented,
A sweatshirt with the iconic picture of Melyssa Ford licking a red lollipop is part of Drake's merchandise collection for his song NOKIA, priced at $220. The wording beneath the picture reads "videovixen.ca," which initially redirects users to Joe Budden's Patreon page before rerouting them to Ford's YouTube channel.
Ford made it clear on The Joe Budden Podcast that she was unaware of the hoodie's design beforehand and had not granted permission for the use of her photo. She expressed her frustration by saying:
"What the fuck is going on? Where's my check? Where's my fucking check? That's what the fuck I want to know."
When Budden questioned Ford about her compensation for the photo, she replied:
"No! I woke up to it. And I'm just like, 'I have bigger fish to fry than this shit right now.'"
Ford stated that since the photo was taken for her very first calendar, the rights might actually belong to her. She has since sent Drake a direct message to discuss the issue, but it is unclear if he has responded.
Drake's rival, Joe Budden, reacted to the hoodie with a mix of skepticism and amusement. While Ford was upset about not being paid, Budden seemed unbothered and even complimented the hoodie's design, saying:
“That’s dope. That’s super dope. I f*ck with that."
Budden remained doubtful that Ford would get paid for the use of her picture.
The internet's reaction to Melyssa Ford asking for her cut over Drake putting her on ‘Nokia’ merch
As word spread about Ford's demand for payment, fans took to social media to share their thoughts. Some supported her stance, arguing that she deserved compensation if she owned the picture. Others questioned whether Ford had any legal claim to the image and saw the situation as a strategic marketing move by Drake.
A user commented,
"They talk about him all year and make money off his name. He literally keeps the lights on there. That’s more than enough pay. It’s obvious the podcast won’t survive without Drake"
Other users chimed in with each offering their thoughts and opinions,
Some users believe that Melyssa Ford should be grateful for the publicity she's receiving instead of demanding payment. They claim that the Hotline Bling hitmaker has effectively compensated her with clout.
Many speculated that the rapper's team probably secured permission before using the original picture, questioning whether Ford truly owns the rights to it. A user added,
"I mean realistically does she own the rights to that picture? I’m sure drakes team cleared it up with the photographer because they’d technically own the rights to the picture of her."
Some fans argued that, while Drake might not be legally required to compensate Ford, it would be a respectful gesture. This user commented,
"I don't think it's a must but I think Drake should. If he really respects her as the legend from the 6 ,he should...Legally he doesn't have to ,but maybe he got morals a bit. It would be dope if he does. For him too."
While the rest of the internet was busy presenting their thoughts and opinions, some users were amused at the situation. One also joked,
"Drake not sending a hoodie after using her likeness is hilarious."
Another user poked fun at Joe Budden,
"Drake about to be like “ask Joe for the check” your payment is all the new subscribers that came from that website from patreon."
The history between Drake and Melyssa Ford
Melyssa Ford has been mentioned in Drake's lyrics multiple times. Most recently, she was referenced in GIMME A HUG from his album $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, where he rapped:
“Melyssa Ford, you a legend from the 6, hate to see you with a d*ck-sucker.”
Ford embraced the mention, changing her Instagram bio to read "Legend from the 6" and even adding the audio clip from the song.
This line was widely interpreted as a jab at her longtime colleague Joe Budden, given Budden’s history of criticizing Drake’s music. The two have exchanged diss tracks and online jabs for years.
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It is still uncertain whether Melyssa Ford will pursue legal action against Drake. Stay tuned to SoapCentral for more updates.
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