We’ve come a long way since 2009, when Kanye hopped on stage during an award show to grab the mic from then 19-year-old Taylor Swift, after she had beat out Beyonce for a Best Music Video Award.
“Yo Taylor, I’m really happy for you, I’ma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time! One of the best videos of all time!”
At the time, some people were pissed at Kanye, some didn’t care and others thought he was just speaking the truth. Honestly, I was probably Team Kanye at the point, even if it was all a bit ridiculous.
But, things have changed.
Both Kanye and Taylor Swift have publicly joined the political fray recently and the stakes are high. Their messages and methods of delivery, couldn’t be more different.
In one corner, the mega pop-star Taylor Swift, calling out systemic racism, highlighting the need to protect LGBTQ rights and publicly questioning the voting record of politicians, while encouraging her massive following to get out and vote.
On the other side, the artist formerly known as Kanye “George Bush Doesn’t Care About Black People” West is also taking a political stance. He supports the “dragon energy” of his “brother”, President Donald Trump.
For Kanye, “It’s not about policies because I’m not a politician like that.” He appears to be more interested in Trump’s personality and in rebelling against those that have told him why he shouldn’t be supporting Trump.
Whereas Taylor Swift clearly laid out her political ideology and issues she views as priorities, West has continued to separate himself from any actual political substance or policies of the man he loves so dearly. While Kanye told fans “I didn’t vote but if I did, ‘I would have voted for Trump,” Swift urged her fans to educate themselves on candidates and get registered to vote. And, it looks to have actually made an impact.
In this round of Kanye vs. Taylor, I’m most definitely team T-Swift.