Drake bowed to Tragically Hip’s Gord Downie and then gave him a big hug at the Toronto Raptors game Friday night (May 5).
The Tragically Hip singer, who has terminal brain cancer, is a Canadian icon and the meeting couldn’t have been any more Canadian if it had included beer, ketchup chips — and been at a hockey game. Watch below.
.@Drake bows to @GordDownie as the two Canadian music legends share a moment at halftime. #NBA pic.twitter.com/gjAUbSi1TV
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 6, 2017
While the Cleveland Cavaliers creamed the Raps 115-94, for Canadians in attendance at the Air Canada Centre, and those watching on TV, seeing two of the country’s most celebrated musicians together somewhat made up for the sad fact that the Raps might soon be out of the playoffs (if Cavs win Sunday in Toronto).
Drake and Downie — Gord wearing “the Canadian tuxedo” (denim jeans and jean jacket) — both write lyrics that drop in Canadian references and share a love of the country. Their meeting and hug during halftime, in front of more than 20,000 people, received a standing ovation.
Downie waved to the crowd as the Raptors mascot presented him with a team jersey with his name on the back.