Drake Cancels Remaining Australia and New Zealand Tour Dates Due to Scheduling Conflict

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Drake has officially canceled his remaining tour dates in Australia and New Zealand due to a scheduling conflict. The news was announced through a statement provided to Rolling Stone AU/NZ, where Drake's representative confirmed that the team is actively working on rescheduling the dates along with adding some additional shows. The affected tour dates include Brisbane on Tuesday, March 4, Sydney on Friday, March 7, and two shows in Auckland on March 15 and 16.

The cancellation comes after Drake's successful tour in major cities, including Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. During his time in Australia, Drake also released a surprise collaborative album with PARTYNEXTDOOR, titled $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 charts. The album features several references to his ongoing feud with Kendrick Lamar, who recently performed at the Super Bowl Halftime Show and released a chart-topping hit, "Not Like Us," which labels Drake with insults. Drake's representative stated that all tickets for the affected shows will remain valid for the new dates, and refunds will be available for those who prefer.

Drake's tour, titled the "Anita Max Win Tour," was his first in Australia and New Zealand since 2017. The tour was named after a viral moment from his December 2023 livestream on Kick, where he introduced the alter ego "Anita Max Win." The tour has been a success, with Drake performing to sold-out crowds and even playing a surprise 90-minute set at a Bourke St hotspot in Melbourne. The set featured unreleased music and deep cuts, and was attended by only 100 lucky fans. Drake also made headlines for his exclusive party at Maison Batard's Le Club in Melbourne, which was phone-free and all-expenses-paid.

The cancellation of the remaining tour dates has left fans disappointed, but Drake's representative has assured that the team is working on rescheduling the dates as soon as possible. In the meantime, fans can hold onto their tickets for the rescheduled dates or request a refund through the Ticketek website. The news of the cancellation comes after days of speculation, with eagle-eyed fans noticing that tickets for the affected shows had sold out overnight. Additionally, the Courier Mail reported that Drake's staging was set to be shipped to Europe later this week, despite the scheduled shows.

Drake's feud with Kendrick Lamar has been ongoing, with the two trading venomous sonic barbs back-and-forth. Lamar's song "Not Like Us" was awarded all five of its Grammy nominations, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Drake has since filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group, the record label home to both him and Lamar, for defamation and harassment regarding the song. The lawsuit is ongoing, with UMG calling Drake's claims "illogical and untrue." Despite the feud, Drake has continued to produce hit music, including his recent collaborative album with PARTYNEXTDOOR. The album features several tracks that reference his feud with Lamar, and has been a commercial success, debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200 charts.