Kanye West has once again revived his long-running feud with Taylor Swift, this time suggesting she contributed to his absence from the Super Bowl stage.
In a now-deleted post on X, West claimed three moments from his career have kept him from headlining the coveted halftime show. Among them: his infamous “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people” comment during a Hurricane Katrina telethon, his public support of Donald Trump by wearing a MAGA hat, and what he labeled the “Taylor Swift moment.”
That moment, of course, refers to the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, when West stormed the stage during Swift’s acceptance speech for Best Female Video. Interrupting her win, he insisted Beyoncé deserved the award instead.
The moment became one of pop culture’s most dissected confrontations. Their feud reignited in 2016, when West referenced Swift in his track “Famous,” calling her a “bitch” and claiming he made her famous. Swift’s camp later clarified that West never asked permission to use the misogynistic line. Instead, he allegedly sought her support for releasing the track, which she refused.
Since then, their dynamic has remained icy, with each side offering conflicting narratives about what really happened behind the scenes. West, however, continues to see that chapter as a turning point in his public perception—one he believes has cost him major opportunities.
In the same deleted post, West also invoked his polarizing political stunts and antisemitic remarks. He implied those controversies, including his visit to the White House in a MAGA hat and his more recent hateful rhetoric, came after he was already “banned” from the Super Bowl. By framing himself as a visionary misunderstood in his time, West tried to shift focus from his self-inflicted fallout to the idea of cultural censorship.
Dragging Taylor Swift into the conversation—years after their last public interaction—suggests a deflection more than accountability. Despite his attempt to blame her for his exclusion, the NFL’s decision to keep its halftime stage free of controversy likely stems from West’s repeated offensive behavior, not a decade-old award show spat.
Swift, known for sidestepping public drama, has not responded. But if history is any guide, she won’t dignify the distraction. Her silence, as always, speaks volumes.
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