Drake's NYC Store Suffers $23K Damages After Woman With Hammer Tried To Set It On Fire

Drake seems to be having a rough year so far.

In addition to his ongoing legal dispute with Universal Music Group, his New York City flagship store, OVO, was recently vandalized, incurring significant financial losses.

The “Headlines” rapper's feud with UMG began when he initiated a defamation lawsuit against the label over the release of Kendrick Lamar's diss track, “Not Like Us.”

While the case is currently in the discovery phase, the “Hotline Bling” hitmaker was hit with another disaster as an armed woman took to ruining his upscale boutique. 

On August 26, a hammer-wielding woman launched a violent attack on the streetwear outlet in Manhattan, leaving it heavily damaged.

The NYPD confirmed that the incident occurred around 4 pm, as at that time, someone called in a report of “criminal mischief.”

An insider revealed, “The perp purposely damaged the property by using a hammer, and the total damage is $23,400.” 

A video of the ordeal showed the assailant inside the boutique with a large pink bag. She was seen yanking clothes off the racks before pulling a hammer from her purse and smashing the building's windows.

Eyewitnesses reported that the perpetrator went to extreme lengths as she attempted to set the shop ablaze with a lighter and an aerosol can., per The US Sun.

Thankfully, no one was harmed in the process. Authorities identified the suspect as 31-year-old Shauna Stoner of Queens and arrested her. It is currently unclear whether the woman has any ties to Drake, and the reasons behind the alleged crime have not yet been determined.

However, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's office, Stoner was scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday morning.

The incident comes almost two weeks after the “Take Care” singer requested documents about Lamar’s alleged domestic violence and unredacted copies of his contract. 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, an August 12 filing from Drake’s lawyers stated that the 22-page contract provided to Lamar contained so many redactions “rendering it virtually unreadable and incomprehensible.”

Additionally, the filing urged the court to force the entertainment company and chief executive Lucian Grainge to disclose information regarding allegations of domestic violence and other crimes. 

In Drake’s defamatory suit against UMG, he accused the company of deliberately spreading false claims portraying him as a pedophile to tarnish his reputation amid contract negotiations.

Two months after Drake initiated the legal action, the group pushed back, arguing that the rapper's claims were baseless. As The Blast reported, the organization contested the validity of the Grammy winner's case by filing a motion to dismiss.

In the document, the group argued that the 38-year-old "lost a rap battle that he provoked and in which he willingly participated," and instead of accepting the outcome, he opted to pursue legal action to "salve his wounds."

However, Drake’s attorneys pushed forward, saying that their grievance did not stem from a lost rap challenge but centered on ending the company’s years of exploiting artists.

Attorney Michael J. Gottlieb said, "This motion is a desperate ploy by UMG to avoid accountability, but we have every confidence that this case will proceed and continue to uncover UMG's long history of endangering, abusing, and taking advantage of its artists."

While the damage done to Drake’s retail outlet is significant, he is no stranger to financial setbacks. In June, Drake candidly opened up about forfeiting millions of dollars in gambling.

As The Blast covered, the “Nokia” rapper posted a screenshot of his gaming records, revealing he spent a staggering $125 million on bets in a single month. The image showed a $50 million wager Drake placed within a week, which resulted in him losing $5 million. 

Another $75 million gamble placed over two weeks resulted in yet another $5 million deficit. While the exact timelines of the wagers weren't specified, the history suggests Drake has lost nearly $20 million overall.

In the accompanying caption to the post, Drake lamented, "Gotta share the other side of gambling. Losses are so fried right now cause I'm the only one that has never seen a max these guys max once a week."