Photo Credit:Getty Images
Kanye West has reignited his long-standing feud with Taylor Swift, claiming she played a key role in him never being invited to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show. In a since-deleted post on X, West wrote, “I never was allowed to do the Super Bowl because of three moments. George Bush don’t care about Black people. The Taylor Swift movement moment. Wearing a MAGA hat.” The rapper, who now goes by Ye, suggests these incidents, along with his controversial public statements and actions, have kept him from securing one of the most coveted performance spots in entertainment.
West and Swift’s feud dates back to the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, when West interrupted Swift’s acceptance speech, declaring that the award should have gone to Beyoncé instead. The animosity between the two continued when West referenced Swift in his 2016 song “Famous,” claiming that Swift had given him permission to call her a “b****” in the lyrics—a claim Swift denied, leading to further drama. The feud reached new heights when Kim Kardashian and Kanye released a controversial phone call recording that seemed to back Kanye’s version of events, though a leaked video later suggested that Taylor had been truthful in denying any such agreement.
West has also pointed to his outspoken political stances as another reason he’s been excluded from the Super Bowl. His support for former President Donald Trump, including wearing a MAGA hat at the White House, and his controversial comments, such as the infamous “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people” statement during a 2005 Hurricane Katrina telethon, have sparked backlash. In his X post, West also mentioned his antisemitic remarks, referring to them as happening “before I went full Nazi.”
Despite these controversies, West claims that his exclusion from the Super Bowl is not just due to his own actions but also because he’s “ahead of [his] time.” He added, “I got blocked from the main stage” due to the public’s reaction to his behavior. This statement comes in the wake of his continued struggles with brand partnerships and his controversial comments, which led to him being dropped by major companies like Adidas.
Meanwhile, Swift, who has never performed at the Super Bowl halftime show, is reportedly considered for the gig, although she has never confirmed her interest in doing so. Sources suggest that Swift may wait until her boyfriend, NFL player Travis Kelce, retires before agreeing to perform, so she can attend the event as a supporter rather than a performer.
