Drake Finally Reveals He Was Fired From ‘Degrassi’ — Find Out Why

Image Courtesy of Cait Cronenberg/KAWS for W Magazine/CTV

You may know Drake as Drizzy or Champagne Papi, but many of us remember the rapper as Wheelchair Jimmy. When he was 14, Drake landed a role on ‘Degrassi: The Next Generation.’ However, after 145 episodes, his character was gone — and now he’s explaining what happened.

Before Drake was Drake, he was actor Aubrey Graham, a star on Degrassi: The Next Generation. He joined the show in 2001 and in a new interview he explained that he was already making music. Yes, at age 14. Now 19, he remembers what happened on set, why we never found out what happened with Jimmy and Trina, and well, why he never returned.

“That was part of the reason I was kicked off the show,” Drake said of his music making in a new interview in W magazine. “Back then, I’d spend a full day on set and then go to the studio to make music until 4 or 5 a.m. I’d sleep in my dressing room and then be in front of the cameras again by 9 a.m. Eventually, they realized I was juggling two professions and told me I had to choose. I chose this life.”

Alright so now we know — and honestly, as much as we were torn over the mystery of Wheelchair Jimmy’s disappearance, we wouldn’t have Views from the 6 today without it. So, everyone has to make their sacrifices, right? We did get a mini-reunion of Degrassi when some of the cast headed to Toronto on Aug. 4 for a web series, We Are Disorderly. He posed for a cute pic with former cast mates Daniel Clark, Adamo Ruggiero and Lauren Collins. He also told the mag that he would like to get back on screen. “I can’t wait to get back into acting. No one ever asks me to do movies, and, although music is my focal point now, I’d love to do a film. That was the life that I lived before, and it would be interesting to live it again.”

Now Drake is also circling around hip hop feuds left and right, with the likes of Meek Mill, but when asked about it, he’s not about to throw more shade. “I signed up for greatness. This comes with it,” he said. Alright we have to say, we’re so happy to see that Drake is finally taking the high road on this one. What do you think, HollywoodLifers? Are you shocked that Drake was fired from Degrassi? Should he return?

— Emily Longeretta
Follow @emilylongeretta