Drake has officially walked back the advice he gave IShowSpeed back in 2023 about how to attract romantic interest. The reversal comes after the rapper was caught on a livestream softly barking at a self-described "goth baddie," a moment that has since become one of the defining viral clips of his 2026.

The "Iceman" artist, who also made headlines earlier this year by rolling out three new albums on the same day, apparently found himself in a position that contradicted his earlier counsel. During a so-called 20-v-1 stream—a format that places one person at the center of a dating-style selection process—Drake reportedly engaged in a bark directed at a woman who identifies as a "goth baddie." That moment, captured live, immediately spread across social media.

For those who may have forgotten, IShowSpeed, the wildly popular streamer known for his energetic and often unpredictable online presence, once asked Drake a straightforward question: "Drake how do I get bches like u." At the time, Drake's response was measured and decidedly anti-bark. He advised Speed to avoid barking as an opening move and instead "just say something nice." It was practical, if not slightly old-school, advice delivered to one of the internet's most chaotic personalities.

Now, however, Drake has found himself on the other side of the equation. In an Instagram Stories update this weekend, he wrote: "Darren… I retract my statement." The use of Speed's real name, Darren Watkins Jr., added a personal touch to the retraction. He also shared Speed's live reaction to the now-famous barking moment, making it clear that the streamer was watching the situation unfold in real time.

The bark itself reportedly happened at the urging of Pinkchyu, a streamer who was part of the 20-v-1 lineup. She didn't waste any time claiming the moment as her own. "I'm the goth baddie," she tweeted, alongside a screenshot and a link to the clip. She later followed up with a rhetorical question to her 775,000 X followers: "Can you blame him for being into nerdy goth girls like me?"

The entire episode ties into a well-documented history of Drake expressing a particular fondness for the "goth baddie" aesthetic. The phrase has become something of a calling card for the rapper, who previously described his ideal partner as a "goth baddie with O cups." That description, offered in a more introspective moment, has been replayed countless times and spawned endless commentary. The fact that Pinkchyu proudly claims the label appears to be a direct nod to Drake's own public preferences.

This isn't the first time Drake has interacted with goth culture or its online subcultures. On World Goth Day, for instance, fans have looked back at his remarks and memes have flourished. But the recent stream takes the connection to a new level. Drake not only barked at a self-identified goth baddie, but he also reportedly picked her as his "wife" during the stream, a designation that came with a promise to buy her mother a house. The casual blend of absurdity and generosity is very much in line with the chaotic energy of streaming-era celebrity appearances.

A Look Back at the 2023 Exchange

To fully appreciate the retraction, it helps to revisit the original exchange. In late 2023, IShowSpeed interviewed Drake, and the conversation inevitably turned to romance. Speed, never one to shy away from direct questions, asked Drake for advice. Drake's answer was succinct: "Stop barking at them off the rip maybe just say something nice." The phrase "off the rip" means right from the start, and the advice was clearly aimed at Speed's tendency to be overly aggressive or performative when interacting with women.

Source: Yahoo Entertainment News