When she was 14, Millie said of Drake, “We just texted each other the other day. He was like, ‘I miss you so much.’ I was like, ‘I miss you more.’”

Drake has addressed the past backlash around his controversial friendship with Millie Bobby Brown.

Millie Bobby Brown and Drake smile for a picture together at an event

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Back in 2018, Millie — who was 14 at the time — revealed that she and the then-31-year-old rapper had developed a strong friendship after he invited her to his concert in Australia the year before.

Instagram: @milliebobbybrown

Speaking with W Magazine, Millie shared, “He was such a fanboy and I was such a fangirl! Honestly, we text all the time now.”

Millie Bobby Brown smiles at the audience as she sits for an interview

NBC / NBCU Photo Bank / NBCUniversal via Getty Images

She continued, “He helps me with everything, just like life lessons. He’s amazing. He’s a great human being, and we went to dinner afterwards and we had dinner the next day and we met in Sydney.”

Drake at an event holding a glass of wine

Vivien Killilea / Getty Images for the h.wood Group

A few months later, Millie opened up further about her and Drake’s friendship during a chat with Access Hollywood at the 2018 Emmy Awards.

Close-up of Millie at a media event

Kevork Djansezian / via Getty Images

Describing him as a “great friend and a great role model,” Millie shared, “We just texted each other the other day. He was like, ‘I miss you so much.’ I was like, ‘I miss you more.’”

Drake at a sports event

Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images

Millie also revealed that Drake would regularly text her with advice “about boys.” When asked to elaborate, she said, “That stays in the text messages.”

Close-up of Drake at a media event

Mike Marsland / Mike Marsland / WireImage

In light of the fact that she was 14 at the time and he was 17 years her senior, several internet users were left extremely uncomfortable by Millie’s revelation that Drake messaged her about “boys” and went out to “dinner” with her.

Drake performing onstage

Prince Williams / WireImage

But amid all the backlash, Millie took to her Instagram story to defend the Canadian rapper.

Close-up of Millie looking serious

Jun Sato / WireImage

“Why u gotta make a lovely friendship ur headline? U guys are weird,” she wrote. “I’m lucky to have people in the business extend their time to help me further my career and offer their wisdom and guidance. I’m very blessed to have amazing people in my life. U don’t get to choose that for me. It’s nice to have people who understand what I do. Now get back to talking about real problems in this world other than my friendships… jeez.”

Screenshot of the comment

@milliebobbybrown / Via Instagram: @https://www.instagram.com/milliebobbybrown/?img_index=1

Drake didn’t explicitly address the criticism at the time. However, he went on to release a pointed lyric a couple of years later that many speculated was a subtle response to the entire thing.

Drake onstage performing

Prince Williams / WireImage

In his 2020 track “When to Say When,” Drake rapped, “Michael Jackson shit, but the palace is not for kids.” Given that Michael was charged with multiple counts of molesting a minor at his estate in 2003 — and later acquitted on all charges — many speculated that Drake’s reference was a response to people calling him “creepy” for being friends and regularly chatting with Millie.

Close-up of Drake in a suit jacket

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Fast-forward to today, and Drake is addressing the backlash directly on his new album, For All the Dogs, which was released Friday.

Close-up of Drake in a suit and tie at a microphone

Christopher Polk / NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Name-dropping the Stranger Things actor on his track “Another Late Night,” which features rapper Lil Yachty, Drake calls the people who criticized his and Millie’s friendship “weirdos.”

Instagram: @milliebobbybrown

“Weirdos in my comments talkin’ bout some Millie Bobby / Bring them jokes up to the gang, we get to really flockin,’” he says.

Screenshot of the lyrics

Genius / Via genius.com

Reacting to the lyrics across social media, several fans wound up criticizing Drake once again as they reflected on Millie’s past remarks about their friendship.

Close-up of Drake in a leather jacket

Prince Williams / WireImage

“Millie Bobby Brown said a few years back (when she was either 13 or 14) that Drake started texting her about boys & giving her relationship advice & apparently in this album he calls people ‘weirdos’ for questioning him in his comments about it like he’s not the weirdo here,” one person tweeted.

Drake onstage performing

Prince Williams / WireImage

“Bro the only thing weird is a grown ass man texting privately with a 14 yo. girl and taking her out to dinner,” said another.

Close-up of Millie at a media event

Steve Granitz / WireImage

Millie also revealed that Drake would regularly text her with advice “about boys.” When asked to elaborate, she said, “That stays in the text messages.”

Close-up of Drake at a media event

Mike Marsland / Mike Marsland / WireImage

In light of the fact that she was 14 at the time and he was 17 years her senior, several internet users were left extremely uncomfortable by Millie’s revelation that Drake messaged her about “boys” and went out to “dinner” with her.

Drake performing onstage

Prince Williams / WireImage

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But amid all the backlash, Millie took to her Instagram story to defend the Canadian rapper.

Close-up of Millie looking serious

Jun Sato / WireImage

“Why u gotta make a lovely friendship ur headline? U guys are weird,” she wrote. “I’m lucky to have people in the business extend their time to help me further my career and offer their wisdom and guidance. I’m very blessed to have amazing people in my life. U don’t get to choose that for me. It’s nice to have people who understand what I do. Now get back to talking about real problems in this world other than my friendships… jeez.”

Screenshot of the comment

@milliebobbybrown / Via Instagram: @https://www.instagram.com/milliebobbybrown/?img_index=1

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Drake didn’t explicitly address the criticism at the time. However, he went on to release a pointed lyric a couple of years later that many speculated was a subtle response to the entire thing.

Drake onstage performing

Prince Williams / WireImage

In his 2020 track “When to Say When,” Drake rapped, “Michael Jackson shit, but the palace is not for kids.” Given that Michael was charged with multiple counts of molesting a minor at his estate in 2003 — and later acquitted on all charges — many speculated that Drake’s reference was a response to people calling him “creepy” for being friends and regularly chatting with Millie.

Close-up of Drake in a suit jacket

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

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Fast-forward to today, and Drake is addressing the backlash directly on his new album, For All the Dogs, which was released Friday.

Close-up of Drake in a suit and tie at a microphone

Christopher Polk / NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Name-dropping the Stranger Things actor on his track “Another Late Night,” which features rapper Lil Yachty, Drake calls the people who criticized his and Millie’s friendship “weirdos.”

Instagram: @milliebobbybrown

ADVERTISEMENT

“Weirdos in my comments talkin’ bout some Millie Bobby / Bring them jokes up to the gang, we get to really flockin,’” he says.

Screenshot of the lyrics

Genius / Via genius.com

Reacting to the lyrics across social media, several fans wound up criticizing Drake once again as they reflected on Millie’s past remarks about their friendship.

Close-up of Drake in a leather jacket

Prince Williams / WireImage

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“Millie Bobby Brown said a few years back (when she was either 13 or 14) that Drake started texting her about boys & giving her relationship advice & apparently in this album he calls people ‘weirdos’ for questioning him in his comments about it like he’s not the weirdo here,” one person tweeted.

Drake onstage performing

Prince Williams / WireImage

“Bro the only thing weird is a grown ass man texting privately with a 14 yo. girl and taking her out to dinner,” said another.

Close-up of Millie at a media event

Steve Granitz / WireImage

Millie also revealed that Drake would regularly text her with advice “about boys.” When asked to elaborate, she said, “That stays in the text messages.”

Close-up of Drake at a media event

Mike Marsland / Mike Marsland / WireImage

In light of the fact that she was 14 at the time and he was 17 years her senior, several internet users were left extremely uncomfortable by Millie’s revelation that Drake messaged her about “boys” and went out to “dinner” with her.

Drake performing onstage

Prince Williams / WireImage

ADVERTISEMENT

But amid all the backlash, Millie took to her Instagram story to defend the Canadian rapper.

Close-up of Millie looking serious

Jun Sato / WireImage

“Why u gotta make a lovely friendship ur headline? U guys are weird,” she wrote. “I’m lucky to have people in the business extend their time to help me further my career and offer their wisdom and guidance. I’m very blessed to have amazing people in my life. U don’t get to choose that for me. It’s nice to have people who understand what I do. Now get back to talking about real problems in this world other than my friendships… jeez.”

Screenshot of the comment

@milliebobbybrown / Via Instagram: @https://www.instagram.com/milliebobbybrown/?img_index=1

ADVERTISEMENT

Drake didn’t explicitly address the criticism at the time. However, he went on to release a pointed lyric a couple of years later that many speculated was a subtle response to the entire thing.

Drake onstage performing

Prince Williams / WireImage

In his 2020 track “When to Say When,” Drake rapped, “Michael Jackson shit, but the palace is not for kids.” Given that Michael was charged with multiple counts of molesting a minor at his estate in 2003 — and later acquitted on all charges — many speculated that Drake’s reference was a response to people calling him “creepy” for being friends and regularly chatting with Millie.

Close-up of Drake in a suit jacket

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

ADVERTISEMENT

Fast-forward to today, and Drake is addressing the backlash directly on his new album, For All the Dogs, which was released Friday.

Close-up of Drake in a suit and tie at a microphone

Christopher Polk / NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Name-dropping the Stranger Things actor on his track “Another Late Night,” which features rapper Lil Yachty, Drake calls the people who criticized his and Millie’s friendship “weirdos.”

Instagram: @milliebobbybrown

ADVERTISEMENT

“Weirdos in my comments talkin’ bout some Millie Bobby / Bring them jokes up to the gang, we get to really flockin,’” he says.

Screenshot of the lyrics

Genius / Via genius.com

Reacting to the lyrics across social media, several fans wound up criticizing Drake once again as they reflected on Millie’s past remarks about their friendship.

Close-up of Drake in a leather jacket

Prince Williams / WireImage

ADVERTISEMENT

“Millie Bobby Brown said a few years back (when she was either 13 or 14) that Drake started texting her about boys & giving her relationship advice & apparently in this album he calls people ‘weirdos’ for questioning him in his comments about it like he’s not the weirdo here,” one person tweeted.

Drake onstage performing

Prince Williams / WireImage

“Bro the only thing weird is a grown ass man texting privately with a 14 yo. girl and taking her out to dinner,” said another.

Close-up of Millie at a media event

Steve Granitz / WireImage