Yes. Drake, then acting under his birth name Aubrey Graham, played Jimmy Brooks on Degrassi: The Next Generation. Former writer James Hurst later recalled that Graham nearly left after Jimmy was shot and became a wheelchair user—but Hurst’s account of a letter and private conversation has not been independently verified.
Who did Drake play on Degrassi?
Graham played Jimmy Brooks, a student at Degrassi Community School. Jimmy’s life changed in the season-four two-part episode “Time Stands Still,” when he was shot in the back and became paralyzed. Reports on the storyline and its aftermath include TheWrap’s account.
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The Degrassi: The Kids of Degrassi Street Series | $54.44 | Buy on Amazon |
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Degrassi: The Next Generation: Season 8 | $8.98 | Buy on Amazon |
Did Drake almost quit because Jimmy used a wheelchair?
That is what former Degrassi writer James Hurst said happened. In an oral history published for the show’s anniversary, Hurst recalled receiving a letter from a Toronto law firm that he said was from Graham. Hurst quoted its reported demand: “Aubrey Graham will not return to Degrassi season six as Jimmy Brooks unless his injury is healed, and he’s out of the wheelchair.” Stereogum’s 2021 report reproduces Hurst’s account.
Hurst also said Graham later denied knowing about the letter when they spoke. According to Hurst, Graham explained that friends in the rap world called him “soft” for being in a wheelchair. Hurst said he argued that the storyline mattered for viewers who rarely saw that experience represented, and that Graham ultimately stayed on the show. The available reports recount Hurst’s recollection; they do not independently authenticate the letter or establish the private exchange.
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What did Drake say about the storyline?
A 2025 report by The Source quotes Drake recalling that he learned about the shooting twist at the script read-through: “I didn’t know about the end of ‘Time Stands Still’ until I was in the read through.” He said he initially questioned spending the rest of his years in a wheelchair. This is a later first-person recollection of his reaction to the plot turn, not confirmation of the letter Hurst described. The Source’s report.
How did the story continue on the show?
Jimmy did not remain a wheelchair user for the rest of the series. TheWrap reported that he later used crutches after stem cell surgery in season seven. That was the character’s plot development; it does not establish what Graham privately wanted or verify Hurst’s account of the earlier dispute.
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What did Lauren Collins recall?
Lauren Collins, who played Paige Michalchuk, recalled the practical difficulty of maneuvering Jimmy’s wheelchair on set. She also offered her own interpretation that Graham may have struggled with being one of the few Black characters on the show and the one who was shot and placed in a wheelchair. That was Collins’s interpretation, not a confirmed explanation from Graham, and it should not be conflated with the motive Hurst attributed to him. Nylon’s 2021 report summarizes the oral-history comments.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why does the wheelchair storyline still draw attention?
Jimmy’s injury became part of a broader discussion about disability, masculinity, race and representation, including the “Wheelchair Drake” meme. A 2021 article in the Canadian Journal of Disability Studies analyzed 583 user-generated images, coding them into nine thematic groups. Those figures describe the study’s sample and categories; they are not audience polling or a measure of public opinion. The journal article.
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