You're probably annoyed that you came across yet another article about the feud between Kanye West and Taylor Swift, and you're probably even more annoyed that you opened it and are reading it. Well, let me be clear: this is not just another summary of the conflict.
As a Swiftie, I realize that writing in defense of Swift is likely to come across as biased. So, I did my research. The history of their relationship is pretty simple: the tension began when Kanye (rudely) interrupted Taylor during her Grammy speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. As many of you probably recall, he took the mic from her and said "Yo, Taylor, I'm really happy for you and I'mma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time." After the award show, she let it go and accepted the apologies that West tweeted.Taylor then released a song on her Speak Now album called "Innocent" that addressed the situation, but in an unforgiving yet non-aggressive manner. After the song was released, Kanye took back his apology and stated that his actions at the VMAs were "selfless" and not "arrogant" because they helped Taylor sell her album. Per usual, Taylor shook it off (no pun intended). In 2015, she was asked to present Kanye with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award, and did so with a speech that playfully mocked his interruption during her speech just three years earlier. In February of 2016, Kanye stated on Twitter that he is $53 million in debt and then released his song "Famous", which describes Taylor as someone who became famous because of him, as someone who he "might still have sex" with, and as a "bitch". Indirectly, Taylor refers to the lyrics in her acceptance speech at the Grammy's and, without fail, Kanye retaliates, calling Taylor a "fake ass". In addition, Kanye included a nude look-alike of Swift in the "Famous" music video. Lastly, and most recently, Kanye's wife Kim Kardashian, posted snippets of a phone conversation between Kanye and Taylor in which Taylor approves the lyrics "I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex". The issue lies, however, in whether Taylor approved the line "I made that bitch famous".
Now, let me clear this up: I do not expect you to be Taylor fans, nor do I expect you to hate Kanye or Kim. I just hope that you learn to respect differences. If I'm being honest, the issue for me is not so much that I believe Taylor is right and Kanye is wrong. In fact, I think they both have faults in the situation. For me, the larger issue lies in the response from everyday people like you and me. Of the comments I've seen and heard, the most disappointing include: Taylor's playing the victim, Taylor wants attention, Taylor wants more fame, Taylor is overreacting, Taylor is lying to get the media's attention, Taylor is butt hurt, Taylor should be over it, Kim Kardashian is savage and bad-ass, and my personal favorite, "she's been called a bitch before, right?" Here's the thing. I see these comments from people who also share videos, articles, images, memes, rants, and posts preaching equality, empowerment, respect, love, and so many other positive parts of life. Yet somehow, these same individuals believe that Taylor is playing the victim, wants attention and fame, and that she should move past it because "she's been called a bitch before, right?" Has it suddenly become acceptable to call a girl a slut? No, and, news flash, it hasn't become okay to refer to them as bitches either, famous or not. It disgusts me that people who want to see an end to hate are doing just that. Taylor probably has no idea because you're just another person, right? But is that the message we want to send to others? Does hating someone or something from a distance justify it? Is it suddenly okay to hate from behind a screen? One less hateful comment, image, or video leaves that much more time for you to think of a peaceful alternative. I challenge you to try it. More importantly, think about the effect a positive post would have had in the Kanye-Taylor feud. Simply saying "they have a right to defend themselves", disagreeing respectfully with either side, or ignoring the whole thing altogether could have had a remarkable impact on the comments that came after your own.
In response to the comments I saw about Taylor in particular, there is one thing I am still wondering about. Is it really that hard to respect a different side of a story? Opposing views, to me, are different as those involve opinion and it is often difficult to alter our opinions. But respecting a second side to a story? I believe that that is manageable, no matter who is telling it. What if the issue at hand was not lyrics in a song, but rather rape? Or what if Taylor was protesting for women's rights, supporting gay rights, preaching that black lives matter, defending her friends, promoting a campaign for world hunger or wildlife preservation, donating money to charities, or taking time out of her day, which she could easily spend treating herself instead, to visit a children's hospital? I can guarantee that if she gained attention and fame one of those ways, the connotation of "attention and fame" would be much less needy and much more respectable. In this specific circumstance, Taylor is simply defending herself and her character, as are Kanye and Kim. If that isn't enough reason to respect someone, I don't know what is.
And for the record, Kanye was Taylor's "victim" three times, while Taylor was him and Kim's "victim" seven times--but who's counting anyway?
