Kanye West 'cautioned by Taylor Swift about releasing a song with such a strong misogynistic message'
Swift's publicist denies West contacted the singer for approval
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Despite more than 20 million viewers watching, more tweets about it than the Democrat debate and an array of high-profile individuals spotted in the audience, not everyone was happy with Kanye West’s extravagant fashion show-come-album release launch at New York City’s iconic Madison Square Gardens on Thursday.
Friends of Taylor Swift expressed their disappointment over a lyric on his new song “Famous”, from the much-anticipated album T.L.O.P., in which he raps: “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex/Why? I made that b***h famous.”
After Swift’s brother Austin threw his Yeezy trainers in the rubbish and her friend Ruby Rose criticised West on Twitter, it emerged Swift herself reportedly warned West of “releasing a song with such a strong misogynistic message”.
After TMZ reported a claim the Style singer had approved the lyric her representatives told the Independent this was not the case.
“Kanye did not call for approval," the statement said, "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 bitch famous’.”
West and Swift’s infamous feud began after he stormed the stage at the 2009 MTV VMAs to interrupt her acceptance speech, protesting that Beyoncé was more deserving of the accolade.
But they eventually put the incident behind them and have been seen together in public numerous times. In 2015, Swift told Vanity Fair it was mutual friend Jay-Z who helped to make amends between the pair and at last year’s VMAs it was Swift who presented West with the MTV Vanguard award and gushed over his music while even making light of the 2009 incident.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments