Billboard, a leading music industry publication, issued an apology to Taylor Swift after posting a controversial video clip in a tribute celebrating her career achievements. The clip, which was part of a social media post highlighting Swift as the second greatest pop star of the 21st century, included footage from Kanye West’s 2016 music video “Famous.” This video showed a naked wax figure of Swift, alongside figures of West and others, which reignited the longstanding feud between the two celebrities.
The “Famous” music video, which featured the lyric “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / Why? I made that b***h famous,” sparked a major public controversy when it was released in 2016. The lyric was a reference to the infamous 2009 MTV Video Music Awards incident, where West interrupted Swift’s acceptance speech, claiming that Beyoncé deserved the award instead. The feud escalated when a phone call between Swift and West, in which she appeared to approve the controversial lyric, was leaked by West’s then-wife Kim Kardashian.
“We are deeply sorry to Taylor Swift and all of our readers and viewers that in a video celebrating Swift’s achievements, we included a clip that falsely depicted her.” – Billboard’s official apology.
Swift has long denied approving the lyric, and the incident caused significant emotional distress. She later explained that the public backlash, which included being labeled a “snake” on social media, affected her deeply. The release of the phone call led to accusations of manipulation and dishonesty, which inspired much of her 2017 album Reputation. The inclusion of her naked wax figure in West’s video added to the tension, with many fans and critics labeling it as an act of humiliation.
In the latest development, Billboard posted a video to social media celebrating Swift’s career, which included the controversial clip from “Famous.” Swift’s fans, known as Swifties, quickly expressed their anger over the inclusion of the video, calling it inappropriate and disrespectful. On platforms like X (formerly Twitter), fans launched the hashtag #BillboardIsOverParty, a reference to a similar hashtag used in 2016 during the height of the Swift-West feud.
The backlash prompted Billboard to remove the video and issue an apology to Swift. In a statement, the publication acknowledged that the clip was “inappropriate” and “falsely depicted” Swift. Billboard expressed regret for any harm caused by the inclusion of the clip and assured their readers and viewers that the video had been taken down. “We are deeply sorry to Taylor Swift and all of our readers and viewers that in a video celebrating Swift’s achievements, we included a clip that falsely depicted her,” the statement read. “We have removed the clip from our video and sincerely regret the harm we caused with this error.”
The controversy over the clip is part of a larger ongoing narrative about Swift’s relationship with Kanye West. Their feud, which began in 2009, has evolved over the years, with both sides publicly expressing their perspectives on the events. Swift has often spoken about how the incident with West affected her emotionally, including in a 2016 interview with Time magazine, where she described feeling psychologically overwhelmed after the public backlash.
The “Famous” music video added fuel to the fire by depicting Swift’s nude figure without her consent, which she later referred to as a form of “revenge porn.” This has been a significant point of contention in their feud, with Swift’s supporters condemning West for using her image in such a provocative way. Over the years, the feud has been revisited multiple times, most recently in 2024, when Swift released new music that appeared to reference her experiences with West and Kardashian.
Despite the challenges, Taylor Swift’s career has continued to thrive. She has garnered critical acclaim and commercial success with her albums, tours, and public advocacy for women’s rights and LGBTQ+ issues. Meanwhile, Kanye West, who legally changed his name to Ye, has remained a polarizing figure in the music industry, known for his controversial statements and actions.
The latest incident involving Billboard highlights how the Swift-West feud continues to resonate in the public sphere. It also underscores the importance of respecting artists’ personal boundaries and the impact that public figures can have on one another’s reputations and mental health. Swifties have rallied around their idol once again, showing their unwavering support for Swift in the face of ongoing challenges.
