Tag: kanye west vmas

Jay-Z Defends Kanye West over Taylor Swift VMA Incident

Rapper Jay-Z is speaking out to defend Kanye West for interrupting Taylor Swift‘s acceptance speech for Best Female Video at the MTV VMAs. The Kanye West Taylor Swift incident launched a nationwide frenzy over West’s behavior, culminating in President Barack Obama calling him a “jackass” for his disrespect of the young singer.

jay-z

In an interview with BBC Radio 1‘s Jo Whiley, Jay-Z called Kanye West’s actions at the VMAs “rude” but said he thinks it is equally “rude” the way he is being treated in the media. “He’s on the cover of every paper. He didn’t kill anybody. No one got harmed,” Jay-Z said.

Jay-Z said that although West’s actions at the VMAs were “inappropriate at the time,” he’s just a “super-passionate person.” Kanye West teamed up with Jay-Z for the rapper’s new album Blueprint 3. Jay-Z said Kanye West was only expressing his feelings over Taylor Swift’s defeat of Beyonce – Jay-Z’s wife – in the Best Female Video Award category at the VMAs. “Of course it was rude because it was her moment but that’s the way he really felt.”

“It’s an awards show,” Jay-Z said dismissively of the hype around the incident. “At the end of the day, we’re gonna celebrate [Kanye West] for his passion more than vilify him.”

Taylor Swift on The View, Kanye West on Jay Leno

Kanye West appeared on The Jay Leno Show Monday night to apologize yet again for stealing Taylor Swift‘s glory at the VMAs on Sunday. As for Taylor Swift, she said in an interview on The View that she’d like to hear that apology in person.

taylor-swift-on-the-view
Taylor Swift on 'The View' - ABC

In an appearance on The View Tuesday, Taylor Swift said Kanye West has “not personally reached out” to her with an apology for interrupting her acceptance speech at the MTV Music Video Awards on Sunday. Swift told the ladies of The View – including guest host Kate Gosselin – that she would accept West’s e-mail or call if he “wanted to say hi.”

As for the incident itself, Swift said: “I think my overall thought process went something like: ‘Wow, I can’t believe I won… This is awesome… Don’t trip and fall… I’m gonna get to thank the fans, this is so cool… Oh, Kanye West is here!’,” Swift said, “‘Cool haircut… What are you doing there? And then, Ouch. And then, I guess I’m not gonna be able to thank the fans.’”

Kanye West, meanwhile, sat for a brief interview on the premiere of The Jay Leno Show Monday night and offered up yet another apology for his actions at the VMAs. His ‘apology’ managed to sound rather self-involved, however.

When asked about how his day was following the incident, West said “Yes, it’s been an extremely difficult, I just, just dealing with the fact that I hurt someone or took anything away, from a talented artist or anyone…” Well, dude, if it is so “difficult” for you to hear yourself being called a douchebag and a jackass – by the President himself even – then you probably shouldn’t have been one, right?

After a bit more babbling about how he has to learn to deal with being a celebrity – really? – Kanye marched off to join Jay-Z and Rihanna for a performance of his song “Run This Town”.

What do you think, should Jay Leno have boycotted Kanye for his behavior at the VMAs? Or were ratings too important for the debut episode of The Jay Leno show to ignore being handed a scandalous gift like Kanye West fresh out of his VMAs debacle?