Kanye West is stirring the pot once again, reigniting his long-standing beef with Taylor Swift and claiming that she’s one of the main reasons he has never performed at the Super Bowl halftime show.
In a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter), Kanye vented about his exclusion from the prestigious event, writing, “I never was allowed to do the Super Bowl because of three moments: George Bush don’t care about Black people, the Taylor Swift moment, and wearing a MAGA hat.”
The Taylor Swift Moment: A Blast from the Past
Of course, Kanye and Taylor’s infamous public clash dates back to the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards when Kanye interrupted Taylor’s acceptance speech for Best Female Video. At the time, Kanye declared that Beyoncé should have won the award instead, sparking a feud that has persisted for years. The moment became a defining one in both their careers, leading to ongoing drama and tension, especially when Kanye referenced it again in his 2016 song “Famous.” In the track, he famously declared, “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / Why? I made that bitch famous,” which ignited even more public backlash. Taylor denied giving permission for the lyric, further fueling the fire.
Since then, the back-and-forth between the two has been a roller-coaster of media attention, with Taylor repeatedly taking the high road while Kanye continued to make headlines for his controversial behavior.
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The Other Factors: Katrina, MAGA, and the Super Bowl
Kanye didn’t stop there, listing other controversial moments that, according to him, have kept him off the Super Bowl stage. He pointed to his infamous 2005 appearance during a telethon for Hurricane Katrina victims when he said, “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people” next to a visibly shocked Mike Myers. This statement, which was made live on air, drew significant attention and criticism, with many questioning Kanye’s timing and message.
Additionally, Kanye mentioned his public support for Donald Trump, particularly wearing a MAGA hat in the Oval Office during Trump’s first term, as another reason he hasn’t been invited to perform. According to Kanye, all these incidents are the real reason he’s been “blocked” from the Super Bowl stage—because he’s “ahead of his time.”
Antisemitism and the Super Bowl: A New Twist
In his deleted post, Kanye also seemed to deflect responsibility for his exclusion by referencing his controversial antisemitic remarks. He implied that his more recent offensive behavior, including his comments about Jewish people, didn’t play a role in his Super Bowl snub. Instead, he suggested that these earlier incidents, like the Bush comment and the MAGA hat moment, occurred before he “went full Nazi,” essentially arguing that his earlier actions—rather than his more recent ones—were the true reason behind the rejection.
Kanye’s attempt to use Taylor Swift as a scapegoat for his exclusion from the Super Bowl is a bold and somewhat surprising move, considering the ongoing history of animosity between the two. However, given Taylor’s ability to brush off such comments in the past, it’s likely she will take this latest jab in stride, as she always does. After all, it’s not the first time Kanye has dragged her into one of his controversies, and it certainly won’t be the last.
The Super Bowl Stage and Kanye’s Reputation
While Kanye may feel that his exclusion from the Super Bowl is due to the aforementioned controversies, the truth is more complex. The Super Bowl halftime show is often a reflection of an artist’s public image, popularity, and ability to deliver a performance that resonates with a global audience. Despite his immense talent, Kanye’s history of erratic behavior, controversial statements, and public feuds may have made it difficult for him to secure the spot he desires.
Meanwhile, Taylor Swift continues to build on her career success, dominating the music industry with her record-breaking albums and tours. As she has done in the past, it’s likely that she will choose not to engage with Kanye’s comments and instead focus on her music and fans, letting the drama fade into the background.
