It began with a mic, a red carpet dress, and a moment that shocked millions: Kanye West storming the stage at the 2009 MTV VMAs, interrupting Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech to declare that Beyoncé had “one of the best videos of all time.”
That now-infamous moment didn’t just spark a media frenzy — it ignited a cultural feud that would span over a decade, filled with public shade, leaked phone calls, diss lyrics, and worldwide fan wars.
At first, Kanye apologized, Taylor forgave, and the internet moved on — or so it seemed. But tensions flared again in 2016 when Kanye dropped his song “Famous”, including the line:
“I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / Why? I made that b*** famous.”*
Taylor Swift publicly condemned the lyric, claiming she never approved it. Kanye’s wife at the time, Kim Kardashian, clapped back by releasing snippets of a recorded phone call showing Taylor seemingly giving her blessing. This led to the viral #TaylorSwiftIsOverParty — and a wave of online hate directed at the pop star.
But in 2020, the full, unedited phone call leaked — showing Taylor hadn’t been told about the “that b***”* line at all. The internet shifted, and Taylor’s longtime fans — aka the Swifties — felt vindicated.
What started as a spontaneous awards show interruption became a decade-long saga of miscommunication, media manipulation, and celebrity power plays. Today, both stars have moved forward — Kanye with his ever-evolving controversies and fashion ventures, and Taylor with record-breaking re-releases and a global Eras Tour.
But one thing is certain: the Kanye vs. Taylor feud will always be one of the most defining — and debated — moments in modern music history.