Haley Joel Osment Defends Kendrick Lamar After Confusing “Euphoria” Bar

Haley Joel Osment being a talking point in a 2024 rap battle was not on anybody’s bingo board. The actor was referenced by name on Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Euphoria.” Well, kind of. Lamar clearly references Osment, and the films he starred in as a child, but he seemingly confuses him with someone else. The someone being pastor Joel Osteen. “Am I battlin’ ghost or AI? N**ga feelin’ like Joel Osteen,” Lamar raps. “Funny, he was in a film called AI. And my sixth sense tellin’ me to off him.” Fans have tried to make sense of the reference, and Osment has finally given his two cents on the matter.

Haley Joel Osment talked about “Euphoria” during a recent AP interview. He made it clear that he doesn’t think Kendrick Lamar made a mistake with regards to his name. Osment’s reasoning? Lamar is too sharp a wordsmith to be that sloppy. “The way I’ve heard people talk about that and certain analysis that I’ve read about it,” he explained. “I think that it’s an intentional scrambling of my name and that other guy’s name because Kendrick’s too precise to just make a mistake like that, I think.” Haley Joel Osment does admit he could be wrong, but is confident in the rapper’s abilities. “I think he’s too precise,” he added. “I mean, I don’t know for sure and I’m not going to assume that he knows my exact name.”

Read More: Kendrick Lamar Fans Debunk Claim That TDE Didn’t Support Nipsey Hussle’s Funeral

Haley Joel Osment Doesn’t Think K. Dot Messed Up

Haley Joel Osment loved the reference. He was shooting a film in Ireland when “Euphoria” dropped, and was subsequently bombarded with messages from friends. “[I] got like a hundred texts in the middle of the night,” he recalled. “And I was like, ‘What is going on?!’” Haley Joel Osment isn’t the only Sixth Sense alum who is a K. Dot fan.

M. Night Shyamalan, the film’s director, talked about the “honor” of being referenced multiple times by the rapper. Not only does the film get a shout out on “Euphoria,” but Lamar quotes the iconic line “I see dead people” at the start of “Not Like Us.” “Someone in the office was like, ‘Oh, Kendrick just dropped something and it references one of your [movies],” Shyamalan told the Breakfast Club. “We kind of lightly know each other, and I did know [he was a fan]. He’s very gracious with me, and I love him.”

Read More: Barack Obama’s Summer Playlist Excludes Drake And Kendrick Lamar

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Haley Joel Osment Thinks Kendrick Lamar’s Joel Osteen Lyric Mix-Up Might Have Been ‘Intentional’

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It’s been quite a year for Kendrick Lamar. “Not Like Us,” one of his many Drake diss tracks, went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and “The Pop Out — Ken & Friends” show was a one-of-a-kind California performance. He’s even working on a movie with South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker.

Really, the only blemish on Lamar’s 2024 is the time he confused Haley Joel Osment for Joel Osteen. On “Euphoria,” he raps, “Am I battlin’ ghost or AI / N**** feelin’ like Joel Osteen / Funny, he was in a film called A.I. / And my sixth sense tellin’ me to off him.” One is an acclaimed actor and the voice of Sora in the Kingdom Hearts video games (Osment); the other is a shady televangelist (Osteen). But The Sixth Sense and A.I. Artificial Intelligence actor thinks the mix-up might have been on purpose.

“I think he’s too precise,” Osment told the Associated Press at the premiere of Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut Blink Twice (via Billboard). “I don’t know for sure and I’m not gonna assume that he knows my exact name, but the way I’ve heard people talk about that and certain analysis that I’ve read about it, I think that it’s an intentional scrambling of my name and that other guy’s name. Because Kendrick’s too precise to just make a mistake like that.”

Or maybe the simplest explanation is the correct one: Kendrick really did confuse the two. Here’s another way to tell them apart so this doesn’t happen again: no one ever found bags of money in Haley Joel Osment’s church.

Haley Joel Osment Acknowledges His Unexpected Role In The Kendrick Lamar And Drake Beef

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Kendrick Lamar really goes after Drake on “Euphoria,” with most of the bars leaving very little doubt about what exactly he means. There is one portion of the diss track that has raised some uncertain eyebrows, though: At one point, Lamar raps, “Am I battlin’ ghost or AI? N**** feelin’ like Joel Osteen / Funny, he was in a film called AI / And my sixth sense tellin’ me to off him.”

While Joel Osteen is a televangelist, the lyrics seem like they’re really more about similarly named actor Haley Joel Osment, which has left some listeners confused (and dropping Abbott Elementary references).

Meanwhile, Osment himself has subtly weighed in: As some have observed, Osment liked Lamar’s tweet sharing the song. Whether this is Osment taking Lamar’s side or simply giving a quiet nod to his unexpected role in the situation as a whole, who knows. But, we know that he’s at least aware of the fact that he got roped into the big hip-hop beef of the moment.

Perhaps relevant is the fact that in a 2017 interview with Uproxx, Osment said Flying Lotus’ “Massage Situation” was his most-played song at the time. Given that Flying Lotus and Lamar have a history of working together, perhaps Osment’s X (formerly Twitter) like really is a Lamar co-sign.

Haley Joel Osment Co-Signs Kendrick Lamar Reference In “Euphoria”

Haley Joel Osment is iconic. He was nominated for an Academy Award when he was just 11 years old, and is regularly cited as one of the best child actors of all time. He’s continued to work as an adult on shows like The Boys, but the most unexpected development in his career has to be his connection to the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar battle. Osment isn’t dropping disses on these rappers, but he was a reference point on Lamar’s recent song “Euphoria.” And evidently, he appreciated the shout-out.

There’s been lots of debate over the Osment reference. Some fans think Lamar combined the actor’s name with televangelist Joel Osteen to create an additional layer of others, but others think the rapper simply confused Osment and Osteen. “Am I battlin’ ghost or AI? N**ga feelin’ like Joel Osteen,” he spits. “Funny, he was in a film called AI, and my sixth sense tellin’ me to off him.”

Read More: Kendrick Lamar “Euphoria”: We Might Finally Get The Surgical Summer We Deserve

Haley Joel Osment Liked “Euphoria” On X (Formerly Twitter)

Haley Joel Osment starred in the Steven Spielberg blockbuster A.I. Artificial Intelligence, as well as The Sixth Sense, which earned him the aforementioned Oscar nomination. The line makes complete sense, and is ingenious, but Lamar seemingly just says the wrong name. (For the record, Genius theorizes that the rapper is riffing on Osteen using writers for his sermons).

One social media user put it best when they tweeted: “I don’t think the Joel Osteen line was a mistake solely because he knew Haley Joel Osment was in Artificial Intelligence, and who the f*ck knows that without knowing his correct name.” Osment didn’t issue a statement or comment on Lamar’s confusing mashup of names, though. He simply liked the X (formerly Twitter) link to the song “Euphoria” on the rapper’s profile. Plain and simple.

Osment has proven to be a hip-hop fan based on some of his past remarks. He named Flying Lotus as one of his favorite artists of all time, which is fitting given that Lotus worked on Kendrick Lamar’s masterpiece To Pimp a Butterfly. Haley Joel Osment also starred in the music video for the 2016 Jonwayne song “Minerals & Gems.” The actor rapped the entire song while dressed as Jonwayne.

Read More: DJ Akademiks Hypes Up Drake’s Alleged Response Diss “Hi Whitney”

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Haley Joel Osment Net Worth 2024: What Is The Actor Worth?

Haley Joel Osment is once a premier child star of his generation. He has transitioned into a seasoned actor with a net worth estimated at $6 million in 2024, as reported by CelebrityNetWorth. This figure reflects his earnings across various film, television, and voice roles that have spanned several decades. Osment first became a household name following his iconic role in The Sixth Sense (1999), for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, making him one of the youngest nominees in history.

Breakthrough & Stellar Child Actor Career

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25th September 1999: Headshot of American child actor Haley Joel Osment, Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Munawar Hosain/Fotos International/Getty Images)

Born on April 10, 1988, in Los Angeles, California, Haley Joel Osment made an early impression with his ability to convey complex emotions. His performance as Cole Sear in The Sixth Sense, where he delivered the chilling line, “I see dead people,” became a cultural touchstone. This role catapulted him into the limelight and led to a series of successful roles during childhood. Following this, Osment starred in films like A.I. Artificial Intelligence and Pay It Forward. They showcased his range and ability to carry films as a leading actor even at a young age.

Transition Into Adult Roles & Voice Acting

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(L – R) Cedric The Entertainer, Haley Joel Osment and John Leguizamo attend the unveiling of “American Buffalo” of Broadway caricatures of Haley Joel Osment and Cedric The Entertainer at Sardi’s on November 11, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Bobby Bank/WireImage)

Transitioning from a child actor to adult roles is challenging, but Osment has navigated this path with roles that showcase his depth and versatility. He has appeared in various TV shows and indie films, taking on characters that differ significantly from his earlier roles. Additionally, Osment has become a prominent voice actor, lending his voice to series like Family Guy and the Kingdom Hearts video game series, where he voices Sora, the main character. His ability to adapt to voice acting highlights his diverse talents and helps maintain his relevance in the industry.

Recent Projects & Continued Success

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HOLLYWOOD, CA – NOVEMBER 12: (L-R) Haley Joel Osment, Josh Hutcherson, and Seth Rogen attend the after party for the screening of “The Disaster Artist” at AFI FEST 2017 Presented By Audi on November 12, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AFI)

Moreover, Osment has continued to work steadily, appearing in TV series such as The Kominsky Method and Goliath, where his performances have been well received. His choice of roles often leans towards complex characters, allowing him to explore different facets of his acting ability. Aside from acting, Osment’s interests in writing and producing have seen him taking a more creative control in projects, signaling a new phase in his career where he not only acts but also creates.

Haley Joel Osment’s enduring presence in the entertainment industry underscores a career that has smartly evolved from child stardom to mature acting roles. His financial valuation of $6 million in 2024 represents not just past accomplishments but also his ongoing appeal and adaptability in a competitive field. As he continues to take on new challenges, his career trajectory serves as an inspiring example of longevity and versatility in Hollywood.

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