Kanye West now has the presidential seal of disapproval. When the president calls you a jackass, it's time to take pause. I have a different take on West's Taylor Swift dis. I actually think he was on autopilot playing a part he's become famous for playing: the arrogant, self-important music star. The world is Kanye's stage and he expects everyone to play along with him. In his mind, Taylor Swift would of course go along with the joke. He's Kanye West. Why wouldn't everyone play along?
By West's own admission (on Jay Leno's show the day after), it was only when Swift didn't continue her speech after being handed back the mic that Kanye knew his joke fell flat. I'm betting Kanye also got an earful from Beyonce's husband. If mama ain't happy, no one's happy. Jay-Z is a married man now and needs to keep things cool at home. He does not want Mrs. Z going on all night about his buddy Kanye. Dig? So Jay-Z tells Kanye this time it's different and he's gotta say sorry.
Taylor, Mr., and Mrs. Z all did West a favor. This has amounted to a very public intervention. West has been melting down for some time. This latest episode has hopefully awoken him from his egomaniacal sleepwalk. The dude needs to chill, properly grieve for his mother, and spend some time alone in silence to hear what his head is saying.
While he's on his self-imposed sabbatical, here's a gallery of meltdowns to remind him what he wants to change.
EMA MELTDOWN 2006
At the 2006 MTV Europe Music Awards, West crashed the stage when U.K. electronica duo Justice Vs. Simian took home the best video award. He blamed the incident partly on the "sippy sippy" he had before the show.
VMA MELTDOWN 2007
West ranted backstage at the Las Vegas edition of the VMAs for being relegated to the "Hugh Hefner Sky Villa" for his performance while Britney Spears got to open the show on the main stage. Maybe if he wore a bikini…
via [YouTube]
PAPARAZZI MELTDOWN 2008
At Los Angeles International Airport, West and his road manager were arrested for smashing a paparazzi photographer's equipment. In his defense, it was 9/11. That's gotta be a stressful day to fly.
via [YouTube]
Kanye West Exploits "Girlfriend" to Sell Clothes
Here's his new Louis Vuitton ad campaign —a woman exposing her ass and resting her face on some obnoxious clown's crotch. Isn't couture elegant?
JAY LENO MELTDOWN 2009
The day after crashing Taylor Swift's acceptance speech, a contrite West went on Jay Leno's new show to explain himself. It was awkward, emotional, rambling and punctuated with a elephant-sized pause after being asked what his mother would have thought of his outburst. Hopefully, this is the start of getting answers.
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Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 6:59AM
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