Kanye West Ruins Taylor Swift's MTV Video Music Awards Speech

09/14/09 11:09am

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

Kanye West caused a flap during Sunday night's MTV Video Music Awards when he invaded the stage during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for the best female video award to say he thought Beyonce should have won instead.

Swift had just begun her acceptance speech for "You Belong With Me" when West ran up on stage and grabbed the microphone from her, cutting her off.

"Yo Taylor, I'm really happy for you, I'll let you finish, but Beyonce has one of the best videos of all time," West said of Beyonce's "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)". "One of the best videos of all time!"

After West left, Swift was out of time and could not finish her speech. She was "seen hysterically crying backstage" after West interrupted her. West was reportedly ejected from the event after his outburst, according to Rolling Stone.

Beyonce, who can be seen in the clip below looking shocked at West's actions, invited Swift on stage with her during Beyonce's acceptance video of the year acceptance speech for "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" later in the evening.

"I was really excited because I had just won the award," Swift later said, according to Rollingstone.com. "And then I was really excited because Kanye West was onstage. And then I wasn't so excited anymore after that."

Twitter and the internet were abuzz about West's outburst on Sunday evening and early Monday morning, and celebrities like Kings Of Leon, Kelly Clarkson, Pink and Katy Perry expressed anger at his actions.

"FUCK U KANYE. IT'S LIKE U STEPPED 0N A KITTEN," Perry wrote.

Pink was a bit more vitriolic.

"Kanye West is the biggest piece of shit on earth. Quote me," she wrote on her Twitter. "My heart goes out to taylor swift. She is a sweet and talented girl and deserved her moment."

Clarkson, who was also nominated in the best female video category, posted a rant about West on her blog.

"I've seen you do some pretty shitty things, but you just keep amazing me with your tactless, asshole ways," she wrote. "It's absolutely fascinating how much I don't like you. I like everyone. I even like my asshole ex who cheated on me over you... which is pretty odd since I don't even personally know you.

"The best part of this evening is that you weren't even up for THIS award and yet you still have a problem with the outcome. Is winning a moon man that much of a life goal? You can have mine if it will shut you up. Is it that important, really??"

West, who Rollingstone.com reports was confronted by Swift's mom backstage gave her a "half-hearted" apology, also said he was sorry on his blog.

"I'm sooooo sorry to taylor swift and her fans and her mom," he wrote. "I spoke to her mother right after and she said the same thing my mother would've said. She is very talented! I like the lyrics about being a cheerleader and she's in the bleachers! …………………… i'm in the wrong for going on stage and taking away from her moment!……………. beyonce's video was the best of this decade!

"I'm sorry to my fans if I let you guys down! I'm sorry to my friends at mtv. I will apologize to taylor 2mrw. welcome to the real world! everybody wanna booooo me but i'm a fan of real pop culture!

"No disrespect but we watchin' the show at the curb right now cause ... well you know! i'm still happy for taylor! Boooyaaawwww! you are very very talented!I gave my awards to outktast when they deserved it over me... that's what it is!! i'm not crazy yall, i'm just real. Sorry for that! I feel really bad for taylor and i'm sincerely sorry! Much respect!!"

This isn't the first time West has invaded the stage to express his displeasure at an awards show. In 2006, he jumped up on stage during the MTV Europe Music Awards in Denmark because his video for "Touch The Sky" lost an award to Justice and Simian's "We Are Your Friends."

"Oh, hell no, you guys won already. Share the wealth. Fuck this," West yelled then.

After losing in all five categories in which he was nominated in 2007, West freaked out in front of the cameras.

"I lost to the fucking Black Eyed Peas last year, man. I'm never fucking coming back to MTV!" he yelled.

Click here to read a CHARTattack column on the Ten Ways Kanye Could've Been More Of A Douche At The VMAs.