Comedian and former Tonight Show host Jay Leno sat down with Kanye West for an unscheduled interview to get his side on what happened at the VMAs on Sunday night (view full interview transcript below the cut).
I would like to say this. Kanye is a genuine human being. He has been a big supporter of Concrete Loop, so even though I may not agree with the incident, I still support him. Do you Kanye. You apologized, so can we move on?
Just in case you missed it, here is the “Run This Town” performance he did with fellow rapper/entrepreneur Jay-Z and singer Rihanna. Peep the performance below.
FULL TRANSCRIPT OF KANYE/LENO INTERVIEW
JAY LENO: Have a seat, my friend. First of all, let me say thank you for honoring this commitment. A lot of times, people — things happen. They kind of back out at the last minute, or they have a publicist or someone call and say, “Oh, I’m sorry, my client’s not available.” So thank you for coming and doing this, in light of all the things that have been going on.
Tell me about your day. Have you had a tough day today?
(Laughter.)KANYE WEST: Yeah, it’s been extremely difficult. I just — just dealing with the fact that I hurt someone or took anything away, you know, from a talented artist or from anyone, because I only wanted to help people. My entire life, I’ve only wanted to give and do something that I felt was right. And I immediately knew in the situation that it was wrong, and it wasn’t a spectacle or just — you know, it’s actually someone’s emotions, you know, that I stepped on. And it was very — it was just — it was rude, period. And, you know, I’d like to be able to apologize to her in person. And I wanted to –
JAY LENO: So when did you know you were wrong? Was it afterwards? as you were doing it? When did it strike you, “Uh-oh”?
KANYE WEST: As soon as I gave the mic back to her and she didn’t keep going.
(Laughter.)JAY LENO: Let me ask you something. I was fortunate enough to meet your mom and talk with your mom a number of years ago. What do you think she would have said about this? Would she be disappointed in this?Would she give you a lecture?
KANYE WEST: Yeah. You know, obviously, you know, I deal with hurt. And, you know, so many celebrities, they never take the time off. I’ve never taken the time off to really — you know, just music after music and tour after tour. I’m just ashamed that my hurt caused someone else’s hurt. My dream of what awards shows are supposed to be, ’cause — and I don’t try to justify it because I was just in the wrong. That’s period. But I need to, after this, take some time off and just analyze how I’m going to make it through the rest of this life, how I’m going to improve. Because I am a celebrity, and that’s something I have to deal with. And if there’s anything I could do to help Taylor in the future or help anyone, I’d like — you know, I want to live this thing. It’s hard sometimes, so –
JAY LENO: Thanks for coming here, and thanks for doing that.
[ SOURCE: MISS INFO ]
I LOVE KANYE KEEP YOUR HEAD UP YOU WAS JUST TRYING TO BE NOBLE I CANT UNDERSTAND WHY BEYONCE HASN’T ISSUED A STATEMENT ON YOUR BEHALF SEEING YOU BEST BUDS WITH HER HUSBAND
BARBADOS (246) TO THE WORRRLLLLDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We taking the world by storm..
MAD LOVE FOR RIHANNAA!
I love my people but yall get on my damn nerves! I LOVE Kanye West I’m one of his biggest fans. However right is right and wrong is wrong. If Emiminem would have did that shyte to Beyonce or RiRi yall would have chewed his ass out! N no apologize would have been enough.
This isn’t the first time kanye did this shyte, yall obviously forgot when he rushed the stage at another awards show when he didn’t win!
This aint black and White, this aint Taylor and Kanye. Its right and wrong and what’s wrong is that he took away someones moment from them. No One did that shyte to him or you. So you couldn’t imagine the embaressment she felt standing on that stage feeling like she didn’t deserve what she earned (whether you or Kanye agrees)
I do believe his apology was sincere however if she did continue her speech and people would have supported him I’m sure he wouldn’t be as remorseful only more COCKY! Kanye did shit like this b4 his mom died so that’s no excuse. He just gotta deal w/ the public and his inner issues and move past. Hopefully a great man and some awesome music will come out of it! Cuz I LOVE KANYE!
they are all in the illumanati.BEYONCE, JAY-Z, RIHANNA AND KANYE….AND MANY OTHER CELEBRITIES…PEOPLE SHOULD REALLY DO THEIR RESEARCH, BECAUSE THE LIL DIAMOND SIGN THAT THJEY THROW UP IN ALL OF THEIR VIDEOS AND PERFORMANCES IS VERRRY SYMBOLIC AND HAS SOMETHIND TO DO WITH SATIN…..JUST LOOK IT UP ON YOUTUBE…BEYONCE/JAY-Z ILLUMANATI………LOOK THAT UP, YOU WILL SEE
WHY IS EVERYONE SO QUICK TO FORGIVE KANYE WEST AND NOT CHRIS BROWN, SOME WOULD SAY BECAUSE CHRIS PUT HIS HANDS ON SOMEONE….BUT WHAT DOES GOD SAY, A SIN IS A SIN, YOU CAN’T FORGIVE A PERSON BASED ON A DEGREE OF A SIN, THATS LIKE ME SYAING WELL YOU CHEATED ON YOU WIFE, AND BECAUSE I FEEL SO STRONGLY ABOUT IT, I WON’T FORGIVE, BUT I , MYSELF, STOLD 500 FROM WALMART. THE MAIN IDEA , WE BOTH SINNED, END OF STORY. WE SARE SUPPOSE TO FORGIVE EVERYONE, JUST AS GOD FORGIVES US. BOY I TELL YA, AMERICANS ARE SO CONTRADICTIVE.
So that was “sincere”? really? because i didn’t believe a word. Not just with the Taylor issue but Kanye has done this many times. His ego is literally out of control, whether it’s for attention or not. He needs help!
Smh @ rihanna. she can’t even sing the HOOK of a song without hitting ear-bleeding notes. she hasn’t improved at all actually. it’s not like she’s dancing hard and singing for 4 minutes straight.
Jay has a good live voice for a rapper.
Oh and not to mention that the incident took all the attention away from the Michael tribute. People should have been talking about the Janet and Madonna by the end of the show. But of course, Mr. Ego had to take all the attention. nice going fool!
I was trying to get on a Kanye Blog but they are down at the time, I even opened a twitter account just to talk and get my word out. i hope he reads this or maybe concreteloop can send to a person that knows him . Dont let people get you down to where you cant be yourself. You can not be who they want you to be. I love you Kanye good or bad, what you did may have not been right, but who am I to judge, those without sin cast the first stone. like Rick James say coke is a hell of a drug well so is henny. That was not you we all fall from grace and show our butts at times, people who follow the crowd will be on the next real soon, they just saw an opportunity to bring you down any way they could. I know you are Humble , STAY STRONG
BRAVO #211 ….BRAVOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!
well said, gosh our people really has to get it together, geeshhhh
and there’s just something about that Taylor I don’t like, it’s something in those evil looking eyes, her spirit doesn’t come across as geniune, I’m an intuitive kind of gal….
and I saw how she hugged all those ladies with both arms on THE VIEW, but when she got to Whoopie, she only did the one arm hug, I caught that Missy, yes I did….
Angel you just played yourself with that statement..shame on you
I agree with # 10 and 24..
you guys talk reckless about people for no reason and this is what you can come up with. we should stop promoting your lame blog loser
fuck all white people that hate on kaye fuck yall crackers…..where is the rock????fuck jay and beyonc too.l.they know mtv is prejuice…
Um, people, are we forgetting that he was DRINKING HENNESSY??!!!!
…STRAIGHT!!!!
I mean, yea the man is out spoken, and yea, he needs some closure therapy and yes, amber might not be the one for him…but I think his actions were escalated by his inebriation. I don’t know Kanye’s alcohol tolerance but….that henny was almost (if not past) halfway point. That HAD to have a big influence on his actions.
Taylor Swift is wack. That video was wack. MTV is wack. Kanye was rude.
kbye
@ 253 alcohol is a truth serum, it enhances how a person truly is, not who they are not…
when I drink I just giggle and flow even more than I do when I’m sober….
If a person is already mean, they get meaner…
what I’m saying is people like to use alcohol as an ‘excuse’, but it’s who they really are to the 10th power, but it’s still them.
just saying….
As a Kanye fan, I was deeply upset about the infamous moment. In fact, I was one of the first fans to comment about how shameful it was for Ye to do what it did on his blog…Its like, I love Kanye but I am tired of defending him and this was almost the final straw….But then he comes on Jay Leno, with those sincere puppy eyes…sorrow written all over…..Now I remember why I am a fan. I dont expect everyone to understand but let’s keep it real. What other Black artist do you know that expresses their emotions raw like that? Heck, what other man do you know that puts himself out like that? Kanye is such a free spirit. People aspire to be that but dont want to handle the consequences. I always said that Ye did give time for him to grieve. His actions speaks for himself. He seriously needs to be alone for a moment…and I know he is not the type that likes to but he seriously needs to. Its like he has completely rebelled from himself….I mean if his mom was alive…he would have never come to the award show with one hand a bottle of Henny and another a snake. That is way past his character and I was disappointed alone when I saw how he arrived to the show before he even spoke. But thats just my opinion. But regardless, I will always love Kanye. I cannot ignore the inspiration that I recieved from his artistry!
I wish the best for him and thank you ConcreteLoop for stating your piece about Kanye. He truly is a strong supporter of this blog! And thanks for having Kid Cudi’s album as wallpaper! He needs that exposure bad. I feel bad for him since he can’t even promote his album on radio without people asking him about his thoughts on Kanye,smh.
This was a Kanye West issue. Every damn thing someone does wrong is not Chris Brown’s fault. Chris is going to be great in spite of you foolish aholes.
**I always said that Ye did not give time for grievance.
That Amber Rose is good for nothing either. Kayne get a clue. That woman does not care about you! She love your money and the attention. If that was my man and I loved him, I would’ve never let him leave the house drinking and carrying that bottle of Henny. But she don’t give a damn. She right there co-signing. I for one would not have stepped out with him acting like that period.
Kanye acts like a spoiled, egomaniac.
Instead of acting like a child, Kanye needs to grow up, put his ego in check, and start acting like an ADULT !
I wanna wish Kayne the best again it’s over with now. What I really want to say is that shish was funny as hell I laughed all day yesterday and I am still laughing. Anyway all is well.
Kanye is forgiven but ppl who are saying that Bey (i’m a stan) should of gotten the award, come on doesn’t she have like a hundred grammys. What is a VMA compaired to a grammy. She can’t always win everything.
It was a major pr stunt
it still is a pr stunt
Rihanna can not sing
or dance
Let’s deal with it and move on because we can’t do anything about it!
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Wow that was the most sincere thing I have ever witnessed before. Kanye is still trying to block out the pain from the loss of his mother. I am in full support of him taking a break and spending some time praying and getting his life right!
GET OUTTA HERE WITH THAT HUMAN SHIT MOST PEOPLE LEARN FROM THERE MISTAKES BECAUSE THEY ARE HUMAN THIS FOOL HAS DONE THIS MORE THEN ONCE BUT BECAUSE HE’S A HUGE SUPPORTER ITS ALRIGHT SOME SERIOUS ASS KISSING AND SUGAR COATING WELL THAT EXLAINS ALOT
Kanye need to realize he ain’t GOD. I don’t support him or his wack music. Why are you guys giving him a pass. I’m surprised Taylor father didn’t beat it ass.
Wow everyone that is trying to throw Kanye under the bus needs to check themselves. As previously stated Kanye only said what alot of people were thinking. Plus I thought that we are supposed to be FORGIVING! Until you have walked in someones shoes that has lived the life as Kanye has then you have NO room to judge!
Yes, what Kanye did WAS wrong….but I still think it was dirty for Jay Leno to bring up Kanye’s Mom…..That was just wrong. Kanye apologized. Why bring up his Mom, who just died? That was totally not called for.
Ditto on the PR stunt that was set up by the evil ass CARTER clan!!!!! Jay Z put home boy up to the task by wispering in his ear and he fell for it! Bey is just a dumb ass puppet manequin barbie doll who is dick whipped by master Jay Z who really thinks he can run the whole industry! He is using Kanye as his puppet….just like everyone else because he wants to control everything and Kanye is so screwed up by the loss of his mom he can’t see it…
Why the hell did Jay Leno bring “Kanye’s mom” into this very subject? He probably knew that everybody would be watching this video now. He wanted to make him cry or what? =) It’s an idiotic way to question Kanye’s behaviour.
Kanye needs to stop. HELLO he was DRUNK. He was taking shots strong from the henney bottle he was holding. Why are people overlooking this? He should just stop drinking and stop blaming constant touring and bulls*** for what he did. Especially when he’s about to embark on another tour in like a month.
KANYE. I STILL LOVVVEEE YOU!!!
Your just Hurt and confused.. But you will be ok!!!
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@Raven #1:
I totally agree with you.. You can see the little boy in him.. I believe he didn’t mean to hurt Taylor.. He hasn’t taken any time off the grief.. I can’t even think how painful it is to lose a parent.. Dang!
@KinDanice
‘People are treating him worse than R. Kelly, Janet Jackson (Nipple) and Chris Brown combined’ LMAO… This is so true…
By the way Rihanna looked great during her performance, but she sangs horribly. Oh well, she has more money than me, more clothes than I do and probably more niggas, so at this point it doesn’t even matter what I think.
Yes, I also think that Henny bottle, and its being allowed on the red carpet/TV screens (when have we ever seen that?) was part of this shenanigan. Makes him look even more “black” in their eyes, makes him look troubled, and gives a reason for his behaviour. MTV had to be in on this. The audience for this crap is kids. They okay’d the Henny bottle for reasons.
Kanya West didn’t have to do Taylor Swift wrong he was wrong he sut of fucking thought about that before he fucking did it
yes precious he sut have thought about that fucking jokes
Robyn Rihanna Fenty CANNOT SING period.