Toronto experienced an unprecedented storm on Tuesday, bringing nearly 100mm (four inches) of rain and setting a new daily rainfall record, which had stood since 1941. Among those affected by the severe weather was rap superstar Drake, whose mansion in the upscale Bridle Path area suffered significant flooding.
Drake shared a glimpse of the damage on Instagram, posting a video of muddy water invading his home. The footage was captioned humorously, “this better be espresso martini.” The flooding came as a result of the record-breaking rainfall, which left 167,000 customers without power, according to Toronto Hydro.
Emergency services were inundated with calls, including numerous rescues of people trapped in elevators due to power outages and others stranded on flooded motorways. The storm’s impact on Drake’s 50,000-square-foot mansion, known as The Embassy, adds to a series of troubling events at the property. In May, a security guard was shot and seriously injured, and multiple trespassing incidents were reported, including an attempted break-in.
Drake has previously described The Embassy as a symbol of “overwhelming high luxury” and a legacy meant to stand for a century. “Because I was building it in my hometown, I wanted the structure to stand firm for 100 years. I wanted it to have a monumental scale and feel. It will be one of the things I leave behind, so it had to be timeless and strong,” he said in a 2020 interview.
The recent flooding underscores the vulnerability even of the most secure and luxurious properties in the face of extreme weather events, highlighting broader issues related to climate resilience and infrastructure.
