A humbled Kanye West was interviewed by Jay Leno before performing on the first Jay Leno Show. West wanted to address his Taylor Swift insult at last night’s VMAs. West called Swift “a talented artist” and said it was “someone’s emotions I stepped on — it was rude.”
When Leno asked West what his late mother might have said about this controversy, West seemed either startled into speechlessness or too moved to speak. There was a long silence that became dramatic — you rarely hear such dead air on TV.
Finally, West said, “I’m ashamed” and that he wants to “take some time off and evaluate the future.” He was probably referring to his career.
Did you watch Kanye West on Jay Leno? What did you think?









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He apologized while still making it all about him. Ego much?
Kudos to Jay for having the stones to ask Kanye what his mother would have thought of his behavior. Rudeness shouldn’t be tolerated as a side effect of celebrity.
I think Jay’s question was opened up by Kanye himself, who wrote in his blogged “apology” to Swift that her mother had told him something his mom would have said. He didn’t elaborate on what that “something” was in his blog, so Jay asked.
He did elaborate… he said Taylor’s mother said “She is very talented” which is what he claimed his mother would have said as well.
No matter what Kanye did, asking him what his dead mother would think about his bad behavior was WAY below the belt. Shame on you, Jay.
I feel like it would have been way below the belt if he had asked it in an aggressive way, or if Kanye hadn’t brought up his own mother in his multiple apologies, but the question was asked delicately and gave Kanye a great opportunity to explain himself further. I don’t think it was below the belt. At all.
What Jay said was not below the belt. Kanye needed to be put in his place. Good for Jay or having the balls to say that to that self-centered, egotistical child. If his mother had any manners, she would have disapproved of what Kanye did.
What do you mean “if his mother had manners?” Now, you are being rude. Pot calling kettle huh?
You’re reading Dave wrong Corliss. Step back and understand the comment first.
B.S. Izzy… Sometimes people loose their focus so badly that they need to be brought back on track. Shame on Jay? with all due respect I disagree- this guy is way over the edge & should value LIFE & others’ talents KNOWING that he was drinking through a straw after a terrible car crash & almost didnt HAVE the ability to speak again.. Obviously he’s taking it for granted- He better get it together…
I disagree…if asked thoughfully and sincerely…I think it can be a good way to really get someone to stop and view their own behavior and how it might look thru someone else’s eyes…someone they wouldn’t want to disappoint. Sometimes it’s good to say…”This is not how you were raised…” I’m only assuming his mother tried to instill manners in him. Some people don’t. But as much as he reveres her memory I like to think she tried to bring him up right. But his ego will be his undoing. He refuses to accept that his opinion is not worth any more than anyone elses. I look at what Jay did as a sort of intervention.
While I see your points, I still disagree. It’s one thing for a close friend or family member to say to him “what would your mother think of your behavior?” and it’s quite another to have someone who most likely doesn’t know you say that to you on the spot on national television. Maybe I’m cutting him too much slack but I think dead mothers are always off limits. Don’t get me wrong, I think what he did was completely rude and uncalled for but still…
What I think is rude and uncalled for is giving these “celebraties” an easy out for their past sins. Come on Jay, mumble a few words, all is forgiven? Give me a break. He *did* trample on a young girls moment and feelings. Jay acknowledged having the honor of meeting Kanye’s mother – good for him, asking Kanye the way he did. Make him really FEEL what he did. He absolutely needs to take some time to reevaluate his life. Too bad no one mentioned that it should probably include reevaluating abusing alcohol.
I would tend to agree with you Izzy but asking him what his mother would of thought seems wholly relevant due to the fact that Kanye mom was a huge force in his life. She was a manager as well as a mentor for him. Kanye and Taylor both have the same career. If someone would have done that to Kanye at the beginning of his career, you know his mom would have had something to say just like Taylor’s mom did. I would love to think that he is just acting out his grief in terrible ways but he was a jerk before this incident. As an artist, he is very talented… as a person, he is a monster. If pulling out the “mom card” is what it takes for him to realize that, I am all for it. I am not being totally insensitive either since I lost my mother as well and more recently than he did.
you are retarded
Chad, is your name really Kanye?
I agree! I think that was a low blow!!!
Hardly. If his dead mother had raised him well (or if he hadn’t drifted from how he was raised), then his astonishing rudeness would not have happned. Kanye *should* be ashamed, and he should be reminded that he’s not a demigod, but just another person who’s mother would have been appalled with his behavior.
I agree. Kanye’s an idiot but Leno’s question was inappropriate.
You can’t go below the belt with someone like Kanye, he is low himself there is NO below the belt.
R U KIDDING ME??? BELOW THE BELT??? WHAT A JOKE, GET REAL! U CAN’T EVEN GET ANY LOWER THAN WHAT HE DID! OPEN UR EYES…
Bouchedag
way to spell
Way to use caps and punctuation. Pot meet kettle.
Kanye is sorry because his stunt didn’t get him the accolades / laughter / or attention he craves. Would he have done this to Jennifer Hudson if she had won instead of Beyonce? We all know the answer to that.
he didnt do it because taylor swift was white he did it because he didnt think her video wasnt as good as beyonce’s
Oh, he certainly did do it because she’s white. Don’t for a second believe that wasn’t the main motivation with this guy.
actually I don’t
im oretty sure that was heartfelt
hes no a rascist or anything
Watched it, and felt Jay Leno asked good questions for the time and the level of emotions still lingering today. I’ll hold judgment until Kanye takes that time off….I’m glad he apologized, but I do have to wonder if he’s more concerned over his actions, or over the consequences of them. Hence my delayed judgment.
He was definitely humbled. At least he acknowledged his actions. He needs time off and some help because it appears that he is still grieving the loss of his mother. It still doesn’t excuse his behavior towards someone who has never done anything to him.
kanye is a racist if this would have been a white person doing this it would be shouted over the mountian tops.racist
BOB… ur racist…. dont play that card
Bob, I could not agree with you more! If the roles were reversed in this situation Rev. Al Sharpton would have already made his public announcement and voiced his opinion on the matter. I do not care who you are, where your from, what color you are, or what religion you practice, if you were raised with any manners what soever, you would have never taken the liberty to interrupt an acceptance speech. And to interrupt it to voice your opinion in such a manner…… Kanye should have saved that for twitter. And as far as the racist card goes….. African American’s theses days pull that card more than any other race in the world. Im sorry to whomever may be a fan of this music and support its artists’…. but i flipped through a local radio station and heard these RACIST lyrics…… ‘MY PRESIDENTS BLACK, MY LAMBOS BLUE, AND MY RIMS ARE TOO”… yea thats about about as racist as it gets!!!!!!! And what’s with our “BLACK” presidents face on clothing…… thats by far the dumbest shit I have ever seen……. Guess I need to order me a Bill Clinton Jacket so I can fit in =).
Im addressin Anne on her comment on page
1 ‘MY PRESIDENTS BLACK, MY LAMBOS BLUE, AND MY RIMS ARE TOO”… yea thats about about as racist as it gets!!!!!!! Anne I wonder about the rest of the world when i hear comments like this because if you go down the line of presidents and vice presidents tell me what you see. Do i really have to say its been a long over due dream of ours to see a black president in office. Also with that how can that song be so racist. when in fact Young Jeezy who made the song (just in case you didnt know) said in an interview he agrees with alot of John Mcains views and plans for the counrty. To put it in a nut shell are we racist for wanting to embrace and celebrate the first black president in history. Hell i never watched an inaugeration but my mom woke me up to watch it is she racist. Matter of fact if i recall Pres. Obamas whole week leading up to his inuageration was televised by a few TV stations are they racist Anne i dont know maybe youre right. Oh yeah by the way I have them clinton shirts on order for you right now. P.S. by reading this im pretty dang sure you can tell im black and racist no really.
I recall a white person who recently shouted at a black person in an inappropriate manner…..
yeah, they’re both racists…doesn’t justify Kanye does it?
You have to wonder is Kanye sorry because of the backlash this has caused against him or is he truely sorry to Taylor Swift.
I disagree – I liked Jay’s question about his mama. He needed to be put in his place. The baby is 32 years old. His mama is dead 2 years now. It’s time he stop making that excuse for everything and GROW UP! He is not a child.
Entertainment2u on Twitter; http://bit.ly/19va73
Kanye seems very lost and troubled. I think everyone should pray for him. We all make stupid mistakes.
For all of his supposed genious. Kenye is clearly an ignaramous. And Jay, what kind of lame question is that? What would your mother have said? Well butter my butt and call me a bisquit! It’s all rediculous, he was rude and has the manners of an armadillo. And Jay let him off easy. He should have cancelled his appearance all together. DISAPOINTED to say the least.
Bingo. Leno should have canceled West’s appearance. After that selfish, rude, entitled rant, the guy should not have a forum to pretend to be contrite. There are no do-overs. Cornhole West is a turd.
Well u better pray that God doesn’t judge u on all u have done in life, because I am quite sure as a human u have made some mistakes…u better thank Gpd there are “do overs” u get the opportunity every day God gives u new breath to breathe.
I don’t think that the question was wrong in any way. He thought a lot about what his mom thought of him…and Jay knew that. I don’t think that want he did to Taylor was right…but like it was said there are no do-overs. West should be a bit fear of the bashlash that could take place. What Beyonce’ did at the end was Rock Star quality and should show Kanye that it wasn’t at all appreciated what he said.
quit sayin hes racist. his gotdamn girlfriend is white, cmon now.
weve seen him do this before, not just to white people; hes even been in a shoutin fight wit jay z. chill, no ones perfect; plus how would you feel if you were taylor or kanye? taylor: even more loved. kanye: americas favorite asshole.
I think that Kanye showed that he was completely ashamed of his actions. He acted on (drunken) impulse and from what he said seemed unaware of the effects it would have on Taylor Swift. I’m happy Leno asked what his mother would have thought of his actions because that is exactly what I was thinking after the whole incident. I thought after that he was going to be a changed man and get his ego in check, but I guess this is the additional wake up call he needed in order to become humble and heal.
I wanted Jay to boot him off the show, instead Jay put him on the spot. Glad everyone is calling it what it was-a tirade from a racist. He should be ashamed.
How is he racist? B/c he didn’t think Taylor Swift’s video was better than Beyonce’s? That doesn’t make him racist. Personally I like that Beyonce’s video was based on a popular dance from the 70s and it was interesting! He might be an a-hole, but that doesn’t make him racist…ridiculous!