Drake Cancels 2013 BET Awards Appearance Last Minute: Chris Brown To Blame?

Drake was a no-show at the BET awards this year, and it is believed to be because of Chris Brown, who opened the show with a medley of new songs. A number of celebrities were absent this year, including Beyoncé and Rihanna, who are both on tour, but rapper Drake’s absence is rumored to be over his feud with Brown.

The Toronto rapper, who was nominated for 12 awards, decided against attending the annual event last minute. He was a big winner, however, taking home three awards, including Video of the Year.

According to HollywoodLife, the reason Drake skipped the awards is because he wanted to avoid a confrontation with 24-year-old Brown. In the latest issue of GQ magazine, Drake, who was featured on the cover, discussed his feud with Brown, saying, “I don’t want my name to be synonymous with that guy’s name. I really don’t. I wish we could sit down, just like you and me are right now, and talk it out man-to-man. But that’s not going to happen. I’m not confrontational, but if someone challenges, I’m not going to back down.

It’s embarrassing -- the amount of media coverage. Two rappers fighting over the woman. He’s not even a rapper, but still, it’s the last way you want your name out there. It distracts from the music. But he’s made me the enemy, and that’s the way it’s gonna stay, I guess. If I think about it too much; I feel it wrapping around my foot, like I get a feeling it could end really badly,” Drake continued.

Their dislike for each other escalated last June, when they got into a brawl in a New York City nightclub.

Drake's entourage reportedly rebuffed Brown's gesture of a bottle of champagne at W.i.P. nightclub on June 14, the New York Times reports. Ice chips were thrown at Brown, and then a bottle was reportedly thrown from his table into the crowd.

Four bottles were then thrown from Drake's table, one aimed straight for Brown. Brown's then-girlfriend, Karrueche Tran, suffered a concussion, and Brown tweeted a picture of a cut on his chin following the altercation.

Both were later sued for millions by the nightclub.