February 12, 2016
Kanye West unveiled his latest album, "The Life of Pablo," in a dual show with his New York Fashion Week Yeezy Season 3 presentation Thursday. But once the album hit the ears of listeners across the globe, one particular lyric stood out to many.
On the track "Famous," West says, "I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / Why? I made that b**** famous.” The line is an allusion to the time West interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the 2009 VMAs to say Beyonce deserved the award.
Swift's fans, of course, were immediately up in arms. Members of her "squad," like actress Ruby Rose and model Gigi Hadid, who walked in West's NYFW show, took to Twitter to vent their frustrations at the line.
And now my dear friend Taylor.. Right before another huge moment for her.. Can I still support him and call myself a feminist? A friend? No.
— Ruby Rose (@RubyRose) February 12, 2016
My attendance somewhere does not mean I agree with everything being said in the music playing there. My friends know of my loyalty.
— Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) February 12, 2016
Swift's brother, Austin, posted an Instagram video of himself throwing out his Yeezy shoes with the caption, "Getting a head start on some spring cleaning. Here we go again."
Then, according a statement given to Entertainment Weekly, Swift claimed that West reached out to her about the song before the album was released and that she gave it her unequivocal disapproval.
“Kanye did not call for approval, but to ask Taylor to release his single ‘Famous’ on her Twitter account. She declined and cautioned him about releasing a song with such a strong misogynistic message. Taylor was never made aware of the actual lyric, ‘I made that b**** famous.’”
Now, West has taken to Twitter to respond to Swift's response. Portions of his chat are below.
I did not diss Taylor Swift and I’ve never dissed her…
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 12, 2016
First thing is I’m an artist and as an artist I will express how I feel with no censorship
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 12, 2016
2nd thing I asked my wife for her blessings and she was cool with it
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 12, 2016
3rd thing I called Taylor and had a hour long convo with her about the line and she thought it was funny and gave her blessings
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 12, 2016
5th thing I’m not even gone take credit for the idea… it’s actually something Taylor came up with …
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 12, 2016
She was having dinner with one of our friends who’s name I will keep out of this and she told him
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 12, 2016
I can’t be mad at Kanye because he made me famous! #FACTS
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 12, 2016
6th Stop trying to demonize real artist Stop trying to compromise art
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 12, 2016
7th I miss that feeling so that’s what I want to help restore
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 12, 2016
8th They want to control us with money and perception and mute the culture
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 12, 2016
but you can see at Madison Square Garden that you can stop us
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 12, 2016
9th It felt like a seen from The Warriors ALL GODS ALL GODS ALL GODS in the buildin
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 12, 2016
not just the famous people there but the kids the moms the dads the families that came to share this moment with us
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 12, 2016
