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

[Jason J]

Kanye said what he said because thats how he feels. if you are at the top of the world, you are allowed to voice your opinion because thats the emphasis america puts on celebrities. it was rude what he did, but at the end of the day, taylor gave her speech. Stop hating, we all make mistakes

[Oh, But I Care]

In regards to "Who Cares" commentary about what wastes people are to express concern over something, lemme just point something out to you, Bub. Tons of people care. Whether it be about a poor little girl getting her moment taken from her to poverty-stricken African villages. What I'd like to know is why you think WE care about your efforts to police article comments and just who in the eff do you think you are, exactly?

[belinda]

there is something terribly wrong with him.

[Kenny]

I'm completely lost on how anyone would think Beyonce's would be the best of the year..definitely lost on how it could be the best of the decade? It's a dance in a white room most of the time if not the whole time..right? Where are the amazing VISUALS (which is the point of videos) that we see? Eminem (who I'm not a die hard fan of being I'm a rocker) took on several persona in his current video , that's a video of the year if it was between him and Beyonce, being it actually has a script, writing involved...not dancing in a room. I wont say Beyonce isn't doing an extremely hard thing, the choreography involved I'm sure took months to get down to a science, and I condone her on that..but that should win a BEST DANCE IN A VIDEO category..not video of the year. To me a video at it's best is a mini-movie to tell what a song represents,..not a step by step dance instructional of what to do next time your in a club.

[k]

What Kanye fails to realize is that no one CARES about who "he" thinks should have won! He says he wants to hear "real: pop culture....but isnt that subjective?

Why does he think his opinion counts? Just because he doesnt like Taylor, doesnt mean that there arent a million others out there who dont enjoy her music. You are not that important kanye!!! no one cares about your opinion and no one deserves to have their "moment" ruined because you feel like you have something to say!!

[Kate]

...And the award for disrespectful underhanded selfish moment of the year goes to....Kanye West.

You stole this girl's moment. Took it away from her. You took something away from her that she can never get back. You, who have been at the top, have been on the charts for years, and have had your moments. This girl's just starting out, and she was given the opportunity to shine. You took that away from her.

Sumthin' you need to know, and since ur momma ain't here to tell ya, I'm gonna tell ya: In one incredibly self-centered moment--several moments, actually, you've destroyed your reputation. It's gone, and you aren't gonna get it back. You might have words of apology after ur disrespectful outbursts, but y'know what? Actions speak a whole lot louder than words...how proud of you do you think ur momma would be now?

I really liked ur stuff...but now I'm done with it..."Stronger" no longer...

[Michael]

I just lost a ton of respect for Kanye West. Just goes to remind us not to look up to stuck up, selfish rap stars.

[Melonne]

OMG!!!! People he apologized, it may not have been from the heart but damn at least he did it. And not saying that he wasn't out of line but damn what you do you want to happen to the man. This is not a race issue or anything of that nature. Its simply like this, Beyonce should have won...plain and simple. And get your facts straight if your going to argue this subject, Taylor is 19 not 17. She's grown. She could have thanked Beyonce for that class act instead of her smart alec comment "Can we try this again".

[Haha]

WHO CARES I agree, wow a nite can do to you and all these posts of Kanye. Kanye does not care about you why should you of him? Writing ,talking about him and that is what he wants, in fact he got EVERYONES ATTENTION. There are bigger issues than this low life and he's right "how can you be so heartless, kanye...."

[Maybella]

Kanye West is ludicrous by far, and I do not mean the rapper ludicrous.

[Monique]

Kanye has sunken so low as to STEAL a special moment from a teenage girl. Does upsetting young girlsmake you feel important? Kanye , you disgust me. I suggest the next time you want to be real, do us a all a favor and be real quiet.

[Some Little Kid]

I wonder how Taylor felt having him just pop up and steal her show? I thought that was actually hella funny that Kanye would do that. I mean, seriously? C'mon, man, keep your words for later. Spontaneity is good and all, but i think you need to use your head too.

[Andy Paulus]

everyone chill out. everyone makes mistakes, and if he felt that strongly he did what he thought was necessary. it may not have been called for but everyone makes mistakes. do not hold this against him, people have done much worse. he disrespected taylor swift but he is right. she's not a pop star. she's a country singer. MTV is not the place for country or country music stars

[Pam]

Kanya has no class and his mom should or would be ashamed of him. He has learned NOTHING in his years of fame and is still making the same mistakes. He proves that money doesn't buy class as he has ZERO!

[MrBrownThumb @ Chicago Garden]

That's a really weak apology for what he did to that kid during her moment.

It took away from the MJ tribute and general vibe of the night.

And what the hell was Lil Mama doing jumping on stage during Jay Z's performance?

[Bri]

Oh and by the way he is not a racist. I think if any of the other nominee's would have won he would have went up on stage any way. That's just the kind of guy he his...lol a pompus a$$whole that suffer from a little verbal vomit here and there...lol. Honestly who doesn't? It's just because your not famous that we don't get ti see it LIVE on t.v. For all those who said they won't support his music... make sure you check who produce your the song your singing or album your buying. I'm not condoning what he did. IT WAS SO WRONG TO DO THAT but I share his outlook on how Beyonce should have one.

[abc123]

Kanye shouldn't have done what he did, but he was right. Beyonce should have won over swift...

[Aurora]

To little to late as far as I am concerned. I think this man has finally cooked his own goose. Shame on him, and I do not believe he is even remotely sorry for what he did to that young lady. Hopefully the public will see him for what he is and stop buying or playing his music.

[Adam]

You Lie!

[Chris]

1. Kanye needs to go back to high school and retake English 101. Then he needs to edit his apology for grammar.

2. Kanye needs stop being prejudice towards white people. It's only when you start acting like a N-word, that people feel justified in calling you one.

3. People need to spend their money on artists that aren't as un-classy as he is.

End Of Story.

[4jenkins]

I think Jay Leno should cancel him from his opening night. He needs to feel some of the embarressment he handed out tonight. He should consider taking a break on the koolaide too, ridiculous...........................

[Jezzy]

How could you do such a terrible thing to such sweet girl who has worked soo hard to get to where she has gotten?

Kayne,Wouldn't you like the same mutual respect for the awards you receive?

I'm sure other artists feel that they or their friends should receive that award, but they still understand that simple rule of "sportsmanship" and "courtesy".

[D-Love]

I totally agree that Kanye should have kept his opinion to himself. It was very rude and distasteful of him to take that young lady's moment like that.

Fact of the matter is (which I haven't seen posted on any sites I've visited), is that he's obviously still broken up with pain/guilt/remorse/anger over the death of his mother. After she passed, his CRAZY has only escalated.

Let's pray he gets the help he needs before his shenanigans take a turn for the worse!

[Mitzi]

LOL someone hacked his blog account.. do you really think Kanye West would apologize so quickly and write like a noob? HAHAHA i'm on the floor.

[Nonster]

Kenye, it is ok to share your opinion, but there is a time and place for everything. People enjoy listening to your lyrics because there is some truth to some of it.

However, what you believe and what others sometimes believe are different.

Not everyone likes peanut butter and jelly. No everyone likes watching baseball and on and on it goes. People have a right to choose. We have to respect people's choices because that is what makes us unique and adds variety and color to our lives.

Kanye you will always have a right to your opinion but please respect others too.

If there is no respect and love people will start to loose their integrity.
And when you loose the integrity it is over because people will stop listening.
Remember the boy who cried WOLF.