NEW YORK, Aug. 29 (UPI) — Kanye West discussed the idea of fame and referenced his ongoing feud with Taylor Swift onstage Sunday during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards.
The outspoken rapper, who has a history of making controversial statements during the award show, was allotted extra time to say whatever he wanted before introducing his latest music video for his single “Fade.”
“I am Kanye West. And that feels really great to say, especially this year. I came here to present my new video. But before I do that, Imma talk,” the 39-year-old started before launching into how his controversial video for “Famous” which features naked mannequins of himself, wife Kim Kardashian, Taylor Swift, Donald Trump and more, will lose Video of the Year to Beyonce‘s visual for “Formation.”
“Now, later tonight ‘Famous’ might lose to Beyonce but I can’t be mad because I’m always wishing for Beyonce to win,” he said referencing his infamous microphone grabbing incident from 2009 that started his feud with Swift.
West then described the ideas behind “Famous” and issues plaguing his hometown of Chicago before referencing Swift once again. “But if you think about last week it was 22 people murdered in Chicago. You know, like people come up to me like man, that’s right. Taylor this. Like bro, I love all y’all. That’s why I called her,” West said, a statement pointing to his recorded phone call with the pop star about the lyrical content of the single that dominated headlines throughout the summer.
The new video for “Fade” then played which featured singer Teyana Taylor paying homage to 1983’s “Flashdance” before being joined by her husband. NBA star Iman Shumpert. The steamy video showcases a shower sex scene between the couple and at the end, while Taylor is shown in a field surrounded by lambs, her face transforms into that of a cat.
The clip is now streaming exclusively on Tidal. West’s “Famous” did indeed lose out to Beyonce’s “Formation” for Video of the Year.
Leading up to the VMAs, an art exhibit featuring the twelve celebrity mannequins from the “Famous” video were displayed as an art exhibit at a secret gallery location. Kardashian shared the piece that was inspired by realist painter Vincent Desiderio on Instagram.
