Kanye West apologizes to Taylor Swift

Before the MTV Video Music Awards even came to an end, rap star Kanye West had taken to his blog and issued an ALL-CAPS apology to country star Taylor Swift and her mother. "I spoke to her mother right after and she said the same thing my mother would've said," Kanye wrote in his explanation for interrupting Swift's VMA win.

Moments after Swift won the MTV VMA for best female video for "You Belong With Me,"  West appeared onstage and interrupted her speech. Swift was in the midst of talking about the difficulty country artists face in crossing over on MTV when West declared that the award should have gone to Beyoncé for her "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)." 

Throughout the remainder of the night, the VMA crowd at New York's Radio City Music Hall let West hear it, booing loudly anytime his name was mentioned. Pink, a performer on the telecast, took to her Twitter, and blasted Kanye -- its R-rated language prevents us from linking to it. 

West apparently didn't stay to see the awards through, and wrote on his blog that he watched the rest of the show "at the crib." "I'm sooooo sorry to Taylor Swift and her fans and her mom," West wrote. He also took a moment to praise Swift, and wrote that he likes "the lyrics about being a cheerleader and she's in the bleachers."

He continued, "I'm in the wrong for going on stage and taking away from her moment!" He added that Beyoncé's video remains "the best of the decade," and he apologized to his fans for letting them down.

West also tried to explain his reasons for interrupting Swift. He wrote: "Everybody wanna boooo me but I'm a fan of real pop cuture!!! ... I gave my awards to OutKast when they deserved it over me ... that's what it is." At the 2007 BET Awards, West attempted to give his trophy to OutKast's Big Boi and rap act UGK for their "International Player's Anthem."

Swift eventually did get a chance to give her acceptance speech. When Beyoncé won video of the year, she gracefully noted that she'd had her share of award-show moments, and called Swift back onstage.

This wasn't the first time West has had an award show outburst. He interrupted the 2006 MTV Europe Music Awards when he lost to Simian and claimed his clip should have won. In 2005, West noted that he would "have a problem" if he didn't win the Grammy for album of the year. He didn't win.

Shortly after posting his apology to Swift, West took a moment to commend tennis star Serena Williams, who also came under criticism this weekend in New York for an outburst at the U.S. Open.

--Todd Martens

Top photo: Kanye West and Taylor Swift / Associated Press
Middle photo: Screenshot of Kanye West's apology.

Comments

[rudy]

is kanye west a midget?

[michelle]

kanye flipped out and what he did was wrong and beyonce did the right thing by letting taylor get her moment @ the VMA's but i feel that kanye did what he did because he felt that it was the thing to do and like he said he's just real

[Joe]

It is like stealing someone's prom night. Taylor is in music, so I'm sure she didn't get a prom. Then some self important (fill in the blank with your personal favorite expletive) just hops up on stage and steals her moment. It might be forgivable, but it is something that can't be fixed. Ten million apologies can't fix it.
I use to love Russel Brand too, but he is clueless as well. They just can't comprehend that this isn't fixable. Even Kanye's "apology" shows no understanding. He just doesn't like getting booed. Girl's want to be a princes. That was Taylor's moment and it is gone.

[Tish]

I Luv you Kayne West........Muah Muah Muah Muah....

[Victoria]

I think he shouldn't be invited to these awards or any like it. This guy is just simply rude, uneducated and lacks respect for others. I used to think he was outspoken but not anymore. You don't deserve any airtime whatsoever Kanye West or anybody's atttention. He acts like a spoiled rich kid! Yack!

[RETTA CHARLEY]

I THOUGHT WHAT A JERK!!!! ABOUT WEST, TAYLOR IS TALENTED, AND VERY REAL. NOT LIKE OTHER MUSIC STARS, YOU THE BEST TAYLOR

[Rosie Sainas]

I notice that Kanye is not very tall and, in fact, Miss Swift seemed to tower over him in height and dignity. Maybe he's got a Napoleon complex cause he's so teeny-tiney. I deleted his stuff off my ipod and am never putting $$'s in his pocket again! Please all do the same!

[Linda]

Kanye that is the most back handed apology I have ever heard. You should qualify Your comments with "IN MY OPINION" You didnt just embarass Taylor Swift. You embarassed Beyonce. No One asked Your opinion ...It was the VMA awards not the Kanye West thinks you should win awards...You keep aging but please let us know when You plan to GROW THE HECK UP!!!Taylor Swift a Young Woman has more class and talent then You will ever have... You are a spoiled brat that needs a kick in the butt to straighten you up. There is no excuse for your booze fueled tirade or tantrum. If You cant behave like a well Mannered Young Man then stay in your "crib" and spare the rest of us.
Linda

[Rosie Sainas]

Yeah, his career is pretty much over...all the wa-wa-wah-ing on Jay Leno was just a desperate man begging for people to feel sorry for him. Kanye,you're toast, man. I am embarrassed to be a member of the same race as you.

[uncle Mandingo]

I support Kanye, he never educated nor socialized himself and still for some reason has money and power. I'll gladly give 4-6 years of my college education back to have half his money. Of course I would still be twice as smart as he.

[Rex Lin]

You guys are all missing the point. No one in his right mind would destroy his own reputation like that. When sober, KW is a good guy. But this fool drank a bottle of cognac before the meltdown... Drinking that much booze is a recipe for disaster. I'm sure if he was sober, he would not have done something that stupid. KW needs to face his problem and start going into AA.

[Stacy]

ok... if u really listen to his apology you will see that he still thinks Beyonce should have gotten the award, he says he gave his award to outkast cuz they deserved it... so he basically trying to say that Taylor didnt deserve the award... he's only apologizing for interupting her, not for what he said!!

[veronica]

That was so rude of Kanye to do that to her. How dare he. Take away her spot light.

[Kareem]

I like how in the apology he still says that Beyonce has the best video of the decade. This shouldn't be considered an apology. Please try again Mr. West

[John]

1) Kanye messed up. I don't think all the apologies (seeing that it's not the first he's ever made) in the world can save him from the ramifications of his behavior at this year's VMA.

2) I don't think he's a racist. He has no hate for Taylor. That pretty much narrows him down to just being an absolute idiot.

3) The spelling and grammar I'm seeing here is just about as embarrassing as the whole Taylor Swift fiasco. Please read more books.

[Gary]

Kanye West.... Meet, Joe Wilson..

[Elisa]

ALL ya haters!

Kanye is being honest n real its called free speech america!
& honestly listen to real music not about a cheerleader
listen to talib kwali, nas, alchemist, kanye, tupac, ppl that have meaningful
messages in their music impowering people! not just singing about being drunk or trying to get a guys attention...Kanye i respect n love u!

[TheBigPicture]

This West character would be an excellent Obama staffer...I'm sure he'll get an job offer from the Administration. What a clown...I think Obama should have drinks at the White house with West, Taylor Swift, Serena and the line lady...The line judge made a stupid call and Swift stupidly looked at West making the whole incident worse...

[Sally King]

If the number of exclamation marks used in Kanyes second apology is anything to go by, this man has an IQ of ... 44.

[Khrishana]

I was a big fan of Kanye until last night. I am absolutely disgusted with what he did to a young up and coming artist. I am not a big fan of Taylor Swift because it is just not my scene but I do believe she is very talented. I am shocked with how childish Kanye's act was. It's funny what money and fame can do to some people and what they think they can do. After that scene and his pathetic apologies, I will never have any respect for him or his record label.

It is very sad, and now come to think of it, at least she can sing and has talent. All his music is computer generated. It did make for some good dancing music but truly where lies the talent? Beyonce, although not said, put him in his place. Beyonce is a great artist and woman for allowing Taylor to do her thing. Beyonce doesn't need someone like him to have her back. I don't think one less moon man is going to make her any less. She is already legendary status.

Your apologies from this point on are not real and you will give them only because your going to feel the affects of your actions. Karma sure can be a Bitch!

[adria]

black power! black speech!...when bad things happen to black people its racists and an uproar occurs, when black people do the bad things its a sad boo hoo. geez kanye sucks, beyonce is classy...it evens out

[Sam Freedom]

KANYE,

You might have a creative bone in your body but when you barged onto the stage like the disruptive, little child who didn't get his way, you brought shame upon your mother. Now, don't do the same with your half-assed, Michael Vick-style apology.

Clean your act up, there's plenty of other VERY creative performers who could easily fill your shoes so count your blessings that MTV, and the viewing public, on some level, consider your train wreck of a life to have entertainment value.

Sam Freedom

[New York!!]

Kanye West.

Don't you dare bring your mama into this. She was a nice woman. You had time to grieve. You just decided to be a bigger ass since she left.

Yeah, I knew you at one time. You've changed.

[Maritza]

SOOO FAKE!! How can he say shes not part of pop culture?? Pop culture is Popular.... if she wasnt popular she wouldn't be nominated. He is soo arrogant and just a snob... worst of all I cant believe he is comparing himself to Michael Jackson(R.I.P)... I do believe his publist made him do it because the letter is not sincerce.... if you read" in between the words".

[Jerry]

Kanye means well, he just speaks his mind. If he was going to protest, there should've been a better way than to embarrass Taylor and Beyonce and himself. He keeps putting himself in situations like this, and I'm not quite understanding why. Many celebrities go overboard and seemed to do whatever they want thinking they can get away with it, but it just creates bad karma, I don't think he was thinking at all...though I'm not a big fan of country music either. It was good Beyonce had Taylor on stage.