I really like Kanye West as an artist, but I fear that he is slowly revealing what kind of person he is. When I heard the 32-year-old ruined Taylor Swift’s speech at the VMAs, I was appalled. A grown man snatching a microphone from a teenage girl and ruining her award is appalling. Why not just dump a bucket of blood on her on prom night?
Initially, I debated giving this sickening display any attention, but I think there is a lot of controversy over the role of famous people in our society. Like it or not, celebrities are role models. Sure, you can say they are “just people”, but no one came to their high school, pointed at them, and said, “You. You’re going to be famous. You’re going to set an example.” Maybe some football players go to jail. Maybe some Olympic athletes get busted doing drugs. They are only human, but at the same time, shouldn’t the least we ask of them be that they treat other people with an ounce of respect?
Celebrities follow a dream to be an actor, singer, or writer, and when it happens, it becomes a life in the limelight that those people ultimately chose. Unfortunately, talent and tact don’t come together in one, tiny package. Despite the fame and the millions of dollars, class and common sense cannot be taught to some people.
Don’t get me wrong. I truly believe in freedom of speech, but I also believe that there are appropriate venues in which to do so – like ones where you’re not trampling over the rights of someone half your age or putting words into the mouth of Beyonce.
Taylor Swift and her mother were rumored to have cried backstage after West interrupted her speech and praised Beyonce’s video as one of the best of all time – an action so shocking the teenager couldn’t even finish her speech. On top of that, I thought they’d need two people to help the former Destiny’s Child member pick her jaw up off the floor.
However, it was refreshing to see that people like Beyonce still have a boatload of class, like when she invited Swift up on stage to join her when she won an award so that Swift could have the moment wrecked earlier in the evening.
This is not the first time Kayne has behaved in this manner, and the fans seem to be speaking out, as they did as they booed him at the VMAs. I also expect that's why Wikipedia, as of Tuesday, had his entry listed as "This page is currently protected from editing". He throws a hissy fit when he doesn't win, or the people he wants to win don't.
Sure, West has apologized and said he was wrong, but this is not the first time he’s done something like this. How many times can someone do horrible things and just say they’re sorry? Does it make it okay? And do they really mean it if they continue to follow that path of behavior?
I do have to say, however, it was big of West to go on the Jay Leno Show and admit he was wrong. To apologize (because so few can do that). To listen to Jay ask him what his late mother would have though of his behavior. To almost cry on television.
Kanye West claims he’s going to take some time off to reflect and make himself a better person.
I hope it sticks.
To see Kanye West talk to Jay Leno, visit http://www.thejaylenoshow.com/video/episodes. For the video of Taylor Swift and Kanye West at the VMAs, visit http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/435995/taylor-swift-wins-best-female-video.jhtml#id=1620605.
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