Kanye West Apologizes for Upstaging Taylor Swift
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Swift / West
After jumping onstage during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at tonight's MTV Video Music Awards and loudly proclaiming that Beyonce deserved the award, Kanye West says he's sorry.
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"I'm sooooo sorry to Taylor Swift and her fans and her mom," West wrote, in all caps, on his website. "She is very talented. I like the lyrics about being a cheerleader and she's in the bleachers! I'm in the wrong for going on stage and taking away from her moment."
Swift was onstage accepting the night's first award, for Best Female Video, when West interrupted, grabbing her microphone, and saying that Beyonce's video for "Single Ladies," which didn't win, was one of the best videos of all time. MTV producers cut to prerecorded footage of Tracy Morgan while Swift tried to regain her composure and finish her acceptance speech, but she was unable to do so.
Later in the night, when Beyonce did earn a moon man for Video of the Year, she graciously invited Swift to come back onstage and have her moment.
West, meanwhile, went home to watch "the show at the crib right now cause…well you know!"
Even within his apologetic blog posting, though, West still hyped Beyonce's "Single Ladies" video: "Beyonce's video was the best of this decade!!!! … You [Taylor] are very talented!!! I gave my awards to OutKast when they deserved it over me…that's what it is!!!"
Swift has posted no comment on her official site or Twitter, as of press time.
UPDATE: West issued another apology Monday afternoon on his blog, saying, "I feel like Ben Stiller in 'Meet the Parents' when he messed up everything and Robert De Niro asked him to leave. That was Taylor's moment and I had no right in any way to take it from her. I am truly sorry." Monday night, the rapper appeared on the debut episode of The Jay Leno Show, apologizing for his actions in an emotional interview with the TV host. Watch video here.
What do you think? Is Kanye's apology sufficient? Sound off below. And here's the video of Taylor interrupted:
120 Comments
Click here to comment- Posted By Laura08857
10.05.09 10:30 AM
I just read your post. Are you kidding. People like you just wait for the chance to stand on your soap box & spew hate. You are the racest one. It had nothing to do with the color of anyone skin. It had to do with no manners, poor judgement & lack of respect for others. Those are things both black & white are taught in 1st grade. I can't understand why you would use Joe Wilson as an example to plead your case, Joe Wilson also has no manners, poor judgement & lack of respect for others. As far as (as you put it) the media & the world sticking their foot up Kanye's ass there was really no need to because he kicked himself in the ass the next day. DO YOU KNOW WHY? because he realized he was way off the charts & out of line. I truley hope that you are not raising children in this world because you are the one that will teach hate. You should WONDER about that.
- Posted By just another white guy
10.02.09 1:46 PM
Serioulsy!!! Kanye is a retard...not a genius.
He should be lynched by a Texas mob for that incident.
I was thrilled that his show with Lady GaGa has been cancelled. Bummed for her but much better off for her to not be associated with that moron cause I can like her now.
Gaga needs to partner up with someone good like Marilyn Manson. I'm sure Manson fans would hate that but at least it's 2 people with creativity and fun shock value. Kanye is stupid...speak ENGLISH and Know your place sucka!!!
- Posted By grey goose
09.21.09 7:51 AM
Well Said JAKE..!!
Im my wife is half native American, and Half asian, we both agree, that had it been a white man, (lets say Aaron Lewis) who did this while (lets say Solange Knowles) a black female singer, It would have been career suicide!! MTV would have DROPPED him altogether!! Yet Kanye wasnt even stopped!! and they let it air?.... YES IT got us all talking.. but what are we going to DO ABOUT IT?!!
I say we should start a myspace , a facebook and a youtube account to compile names and video telling Kanye to turn in all his awards and GET OUT OF POP CULTURE!!!
- Posted By purple nurple
09.21.09 7:24 AM
Kanye is going to continue to pull ignorant stunts reguardless of what anyone says.. he IS IGNORANT.. his music....gay 808`s and beefcakes ....BLOWS and he KNOWS THIS..(hey kanye auto tune is to fix mistakes not to use as an actual effect.....STOP DOWNLOADING his music and perhaps within a year or so he`ll GO AWAY FOR GOOD.. the only thing carrying Kanye is mtv.. without it he`d be on the street peddeling his tunes with a tin cup and a banjoe (I`d like that)
- Posted By Chicky
09.15.09 10:11 PM
I would just like to say that we must not forget that we are all human. Kanye has been through a terrible ordeal with losing his Mother and the drinking doesn't help these situations. Everyone back off, we have all done things we wish we could take back and he said he was sorry!
This will not be forgotten any time soon I'm afraid and that upsets me. People are to Judgemental now a days and if Taylor Swift is as good person as she seems she will except Kaynes apologie and move on from this mistake and take in stride.
Do the right thing and lets all be loving supporting humans and move on from the past! Let the past stay in the past.
Concerned in Colorado
- Posted By Anonymous
09.15.09 1:18 PM
It is unfortunate that Kanye took away Taylor's important moment. It is fortunate that Beyonce gave Taylor an opportunity to make her acceptance speech. Kanye will have to deal with his terrible mistake. It can't be explained, but I appreciate the fact that he made an immediate apology. Unfortunately, because of his actions, he will lose many fans and possibly millions of dollars and Taylor will gain additional millions with the way that she handled his outburst. That will be Kanye's punishment. I hate that it happened. I like them both. Can we let the matter rest? You cannot go back and clean up history.
- Posted By MK
09.15.09 1:07 PM
There's no excuse for this. Kayne's actions are like those of a 5-year-old upset that the kid down the street got more Christmas presents than he did.
How did he get on the stage? Where are the security guards? If he's not scheduled to be on the stage at that time he shouldn't be allowed out there.
This was a moment for Taylor Swift, no one else. Just think how Kayne would react if someone did the same thing to him. At least Beyonce had the class to let Taylor accept the award with some degree of dignity.
Other than accepting awards, he should be banned from the awards ceremonies in the future. He obviously doesn't know how to act as an adult.
Believe me, race doesn't have anything to do with my post. It's all about supporting and honoring fellow artists.
- Posted By Adirondackgirl
09.15.09 11:31 AM
Dear Emma,
You must be kidding, RIGHT? This is a young singer with a budding career, who works at it just as hard as anyone else in the business - you don't think she deserved her reward for best video without some conceded jerk upstaging her - hope somebody walks all over you someday IF you actually acheive anything in your lifetime.
- Posted By harlangel
09.15.09 11:19 AM
I agree if it had only happened once. Kanye's boorish behaviour continues on yr after yr. How many times do we need to hear his poor excuses after he's completely humiliated another fellow artist???? This isn't an isolated incident, with him it's become a way of life!!!! It's not about the Music Awards anymore, it's ONCE AGAIN Kanye making an asshole of himself at the expense of others. As I said, it's like watching a trainwreck, when will it end with him???
One apology, second apology, THIRD???????? For God's sake, just take his name off any of the future awards ceremony and we can actually sit back and enjoy the show without watching the ravings of someone who thinks he's the be all to end all when it comes to handing out awards, his is the only right answer!! Get over yourself already Kanye, were way past you and just want you to disappear. Your music just isn't worth your awful & continuous bad behaviour to fellow artists to have to put up with you. And while your at it,. get over this weird fixation on poor Beyonce!! We KNOW how talented she is, were not stupid, but your fast becoming an embarrasement to her when you start spouting off, she doesn't need you to declare she should have won instead of Taylor Swift, Good Lord, with friends like you, she doesn't need any enemies, your doing a fine job of putting her in a place of embarrasement that she then feels the need to answer to. Shame. Just go away already.
- Posted By Anonymous
09.15.09 11:07 AM
It's not a matter of signing names,,focus on the issue,,Kanye is a bad role model.He's not award worthy material and jealous as hell of real talent, a complete asshole and has proven this time and time again,,,He needs to be off the mailing list for these events,,,Taylor was over it when Beyonce let her have her moment,,,you have very little info on the subject,,he's done this before you dumb ass,,,I know him personally and have seen him be the arrogant, self centered, useless piece of **** that he freely demonstrates,,get your facts straight before opening your pie hole,,,Teri,,,
- Posted By The Daily Reviewer
09.15.09 3:05 AM
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- Posted By Candice
09.15.09 1:27 AM
How can you say mind your language and **** in the same post? It's like Nicholas Cage in Face Off when he said, "Watch your ****ing mouth!" I mean, hello!!! Some people are so blinded by their own ignorance that they can't see a cm in front of them!!! Which brings me to Kanye. He is sad and pathetic and it is really a shame that he even has talent because he sure dosen't deserve it! His mother prolly would have smacked his mouth if she had still been alive! RIP.. I have to say that he is a giant weed in a bed of roses that is the joy of music! A pathetic blimish on the tip of fame! He should do us all a favor and just fade out!
- Posted By Anonymous
09.14.09 9:01 PM
Kanye,
I hope you read this. I used to feel sorry for you the way your mom died and all, but I am sure she would not approve of the way you behaved and how you continue to behave. In fact, until this incident w/Taylor Swift, I did not know how much of bad boy you really are. What are you trying to prove? You should be happy because people buy your albums and you really can't even sing. True, I liked you music, but I cannot continue to support someone as cruel as you. I mean to take the lime light away from a 19 year old Taylor Swift, who could not harm a fly, wow that speaks volumes as to how ruthless and selfish you really are. I hope no one ever does that to you! And, just to think, you did all that and Beyonce still won an award. I am sure your Mother did not raise you to be so disrespectful. Change your ways Kanye and make your Mom proud. Cudos to Beyonce and her father for paying tribute to Taylor in the end. That, was the only saving grace in this whole thing. Be a man Kanye and quit making excuses for yourself. Remember apologies are just words, but actions speak louder.
Signed Former Kanye Fan
- Posted By Skid
09.14.09 8:59 PM
I just burned my Kanye West CD. I watched it burn then I stepped on it.
Maybe Kanye and Serena Williams should hook up. What fine examples they would set for their kids.
I have some words that he can work into his next rap. "I'm dumbass, with no class, just ask me I wil tell you so."
This guy is going to piss off the wrong person someday. Soon.
- Posted By CK
09.14.09 8:50 PM
Kanye you're an idiot. You can expect me or my friends to buy your albums in exactly never, never, never years. As a matter of fact, I will promote illegal pirating of your music to every music fan that crosses my path. You have no manners or common sense. You deserve no respect as an artist for acting so immature.
- Posted By Cronos
09.14.09 8:07 PM
It's obvious that while other people are paying their dues in show biz, Kanye never learned the lessons. He never learned to respect the business. He never learned to respect the fans. He never learned to put other people over (make other show biz people look good too. It's a mutual thing). He is not an entertainment professional, just an opportunist.
What I really found incredulously amusing was his blog apology. It was full of self-justification and self-aggrandizement. This was not an apology motivated by remorse. They were words motivated by fear of financial backlash. And, his consistently poor behavior has dimished the credibility of his apologies to almost nothing. People only accept apologies when a person learns from their mistakes.
This time, he was just a bully. He picked on a teenage girl and took a moment from her that she will never get back. He trampled on her dignity on national tv and ruined the memory of a lifetime "first" experience for her. There is no forgiveness for the irreparable damage he did to Taylor Swift. He is a sham and an embarrassment to the business and to the fans.
- Posted By Anonymous
09.14.09 7:50 PM
Honestly this entire thing has been blown out of context!!! I'm sure Kanye West didn't set out to cause Taylor any real harm with his behavior!!! I think that most of the comments that are being posted are flat out rediculous!! Hell No he souldn't be banned from future VMAs and Hell No he shouldn't give up a DAMN thing for his hard work for just showing love to a fellow artist. And since the media and the world got it's foot all up in Kanye's Ass what about Joe Wilson and what he said? Joe Wilson called our now African-American President Barack Obama a liar? Now if you all want to bitch about something bitch about that!!! Was his apology enough? In my opinion HELL NO!!! Was he asked to give his seat up? NO!! Should he have? HELL YES!!! But he was given another chance, HMMMM... was it due to the color of his skin....... I wonder!!!!
- Posted By STefanie
09.14.09 7:49 PM
I think its BS.. It was Taylor's time to shine, regardless of who he thought was better or deserved it more... Something like this would never have happened at the CMA's. VMA's are nothing but drama... I feel sorry for all the great singers/preformers/songwriters. that have to deal with the VMA's in general even if they do get an award. Beyonce is a great singer, you didnt see her up there acting a fool.... Some ppl have class, and some dont... and Kayne West dont..
12.04.09 7:26 PM