Why Drake's 6-Pack Surgery Rumors Are a Problem

After Drake uploaded an Instagram post revealing his toned abs, fans began speculating that the "Laugh Now Cry Later" rapper may have undergone cosmetic surgery. This speculation has long circulated online.

Joe Budden first brought up Drake's "sculpted stomach" during his diss track Afraid, and later claimed he visited a plastic surgeon for it. Cardi B was also accused of getting ab etching, which is a liposuction technique designed to emphasize abdominals for an aesthetic midsection sculpt.

1. It’s a sexist rumor

Drake is an award-winning rapper known for flaunting his impressive physique. Over time, fans have taken note of how well-defined his abs are; but more recently a shirtless photo posted to Instagram caused widespread speculation online that it may not have come from months spent at the gym.

Many fans have taken notice of a photo depicting Drake with a towel wrapped around his waist, prompting speculation as to whether cosmetic work has been performed to achieve those perfectly toned abs. They also question his chest and arms which lack definition.

Cosmetic surgery is not uncommon among Hollywood personalities, though the issue tends to be discussed more openly when women undergo it than when it concerns men. That is why it was such a shock when rapper Cardi B revealed she underwent liposuction and breast augmentation procedures while Jersey Shore star Ronnie Ortiz-Magro revealed he underwent ab etching surgery.

Not for the first time has Drake been linked with cosmetic surgery allegations. Back in 2016, radio personality Joe Budden claimed that Drake underwent abdominal sculpting surgery at popular plastic surgeon Michael "Dr. Miami" Salzhauer who provided assistance.

Dr. Miami quickly responded to these accusations with a humorous TikTok video showing him responding to some of the most absurd gossip surrounding Drake.

But the main problem with the rumor is its offensiveness to female fans as well as its potential sexism: suggesting Black men may have undergone plastic surgery and thus be fearful.

Drake and 21 Savage released the controversial song Circo Loco, which many fans thought referred to Megan Thee Stallion, who recently underwent a tummy tuck after being accused of lying about being shot by Tory Lanez. Twitter users expressed outrage about this statement by Drizzy for apparently casting shade at Megan Thee Stallion.

2. It’s a sexist joke

Rumors swirling about whether Drake has undergone plastic surgery are nothing short of serious. His abs have caused much conversation online and while it is unclear whether any procedures have been performed on them or not, many fans have speculated they have.

Drake's sculpted stomach is undeniable, yet this accusation comes from an extremely misogynist perspective. People have made similar accusations about Cardi B, with accusations including liposuction and breast augmentation; Jersey Shore star Ronnie Ortiz-Magro confirmed having had ab etching, a form of liposuction designed to target and emphasize abdominals for an accentuated midsection look.

Rumors can originate from any source and while judging another based on appearance is never an ideal practice, these rumors being spread via social media by women who shame others is extremely distressing. Many times this type of behaviour is done as an attempt to feel better about themselves by criticizing other bodies - something which women on social media are doing regularly as part of an attempt at body-shaming themselves and making themselves feel better about their own.

Johanna Leia recently posted a photograph on Twitter that has gone viral, featuring tight clothing with what appears to be her butt peeking out from underneath it. People have started criticizing Johanna's body type and making comments about being body shamed because of it.

Johanna Leia has long been targeted by critics due to her body. Over the past week alone, hundreds of tweets have been directed her way criticizing her figure and questioning if plastic surgery may have taken place.

Sexist jokes made about Swift are also totally outdated; these jokes were commonplace during her youth in the 1980s and 1990s; although these may no longer apply directly to her current situation, it remains deeply problematic.

It's clear why this joke is sexist: men follow society's rules when it comes to looking at women, rewarding those who focus on appearance while providing more power when associating with those whose bodies fit within vague and subjective criteria set by society.

3. It’s a sexist attack

Staying abreast of celebrity news, it may come as no surprise that Drake recently made headlines for sparking cosmetic surgery rumors following a shirtless photo posted to Instagram Stories showing his abs appearing sculpted so perfectly they became speculation for whether or not these were real or artificially created.

Many are curious if Drizzy is getting any sort of cosmetic procedure to achieve his six-pack look, with his toned abs appearing to suggest it may be. While it may be tempting to assume so based on appearance alone, it's important to look at their entire physique; most people with defined abs also possess well-developed arms and chest.

No stranger has caused more of a stir than Cardi B when she posted an online photo showing off her seemingly-sculpted physique, leading many people to speculate they had undergone plastic surgery to achieve it. Jersey Shore star Ronnie Ortiz-Magro and even rapper Joe Budden have all been accused of getting surgical work to enhance their physiques.

Occurring with regularity in the entertainment industry, it becomes an even bigger concern when women become involved. Rumors regarding breast augmentation, liposuction or ab etching tend to surface with greater frequency in cases involving women who have undergone cosmetic procedures like this.

Rumors surrounding Drake getting plastic surgery to achieve his ripped physique first surfaced as far back as 2015. Joe Budden, an ex-radio personality and current podcast host has claimed that Drake visited Michael "Dr. Miami" Salzhauer for abdominal sculpting work back in 2016.

According to Budden's tweet, rapper Jay Electronica visited a plastic surgeon with the goal of getting a flat stomach. Luckily, in his music he addressed this matter and has stated that while he doesn't intend on having any cosmetic procedures performed - rather he still plans on losing weight through diet and exercise.

Drake used social media to disprove rumors regarding his body being altered through surgery. He further shared how hard he worked out to achieve it by both losing weight and building muscle mass.

4. It’s a sexist attack on women

Drake has long been accused of having plastic surgery to achieve his abs, with recent speculation mounting online about whether or not this was true. A shirtless photo posted to Instagram Stories showed the rapper sporting a towel around his waist revealing an impressively defined midsection.

Fans were quick to express their concern, noting that Drake's abs didn't seem natural and appeared over-sculpted. Some speculated he may have undergone ab etching, a procedure which specifically targets and emphasizes abdominal muscles in order to produce a defined midsection.

No matter the speculation or reports, Drake unquestionably boasts an outstanding physique. A world-class athlete, Drake's body has always been an eye-catcher and, while some critics may have called his physique unnatural or even plastic surgery-induced, it seems unlikely.

However, the 6-pack rumor comes from radio personality Joe Budden. On his diss track "Afraid", Joe suggested that Drake may have visited Dr. Miami without telling anyone, according to UPROXX.

Budden's remarks didn't significantly damage Drake's career, but they nevertheless caused some friction and controversy. Drake responded on Twitter by asserting that they weren't about him but about an incident with someone whom Carnage believed could have been his wifey a few days earlier. He wrote to Carnage saying it wasn't personal: you are angry over an event which involved that particular individual.

So is Drake getting liposuction really an issue? At the end of the day, it comes down to what decision one makes regarding their body - and for someone like Drake who has achieved so much, receiving negative remarks from other men won't stop his progress any time soon.

Others might find it amusing that an international superstar such as Joe Budden could be subject to attacks over his physique; but this is far from unique in the celebrity world. Cardi B, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro of Jersey Shore fame and even Joe Budden have all been accused of receiving cosmetic work done.