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