The proverbial hemorrhoid of the music industry, Kanye West, is back and more of a pain in the butt than ever.
West didn’t take home any moon men at Sunday night’s MTV Video Music Awards, but his now infamous interruption of Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech for Best Female Video will be remembered long after the night’s winners are forgotten.
On stage, inappropriate outbursts have become to West like the crotch grab was to Michael Jackson—a signature move guaranteed to get people talking.
This outburst and its aftermath are nothing new to West. He pulled similar stunts at the Grammy Awards and the American Music Awards.
And who could forget his most infamous speech that ended with “George Bush doesn’t care about black people,” during a nationally televised Hurricane Katrina Relief telethon?
People are talking about this all over town, in fact all over the nation. On campus, most students agree that it was rude, disrespectful and distasteful.
“I thought it was the most outlandish bull ever,” Chris Rodney said.
A disgusted Swift fan thought his actions were unspeakable.
“I don’t even know how to put it into words what he did to her,” Jessica Szarama said.
Krupa Mehta shared my sentiments exactly when she said he was just out for attention.
Mary-Kate Olsen, Pink and Katy Perry also spoke out against West’s actions. On her celebrity blog, Kelly Clarkson kicked it up a notch when she asked, “Did you not get hugged enough [as a child]?”
Kellie Pickler tweeted some choice words in defense of Swift, or as she likes to call her, “tater tot.” Even President Obama has apparently gotten in on the mudslinging, calling West a “jackass,” off the record of course, to an ABC news employee.
As if I needed more proof, this most recent outburst has made it glaringly obvious West is an arrogant, self-centered celebrity in desperate need of attention.
He is an ego maniac with an all-consuming need to be in the spotlight. He needs to be the center of attention, to be recognized as anything: talented artist, rapper, celebrity, idiot, jerk—it’s all the same.
Although he thinks he has found a way to cleverly mask these pathetic attempts, I have dug my way out from under his bull. His famous Bush comment had nothing to with hurricane Katrina victims, and this most recent tirade had nothing to do with Beyoncé being more deserving or Swift being undeserving.
It was simply a way for him to land in the spotlight.
And as for the bizarre, underhanded, and further insulting apology he posted on his blog? It was not meant to serve as an apology but simply as a way to extend his time in the spotlight.
In the blog post he so smugly stated he was “soooooo sorry” but closed the posting by saying he was a “true fan of real pop culture,” as if those who voted for Swift as well as Swift herself are not. What a way to keep the fire of revulsion burning.
During West’s impromptu interview on Leno, which West asked for, he continued to fan the flames. West said he wanted to meet with Swift in order to apologize face to face.
However, during Swift’s appearance on “The View,” she mentioned no such contact with West or any of his people.
And just when I thought West couldn’t possibly stoop any lower, Leno mentioned West’s late mother. West appeared as if he was going to cry, but he couldn’t squeeze any tears out.
He then attempted to blame his behavior on the fact he had never taken time off to deal with his mother’s death.
In the aftermath West has said it was a mistake to interrupt Swift’s speech, stealing her moment in the spotlight. For that I have to say he is right, it was definitely a mistake. Based on the outpouring of disapproval, this might be even the biggest mistake of his career.
However, I think the biggest mistake of his life was not actually his fault, but instead the doctors who opted not to keep his jaw wired shut.
Oh how different the world would be…
