GetCelebrity Editorial
Taylor Swift-Kim Kardashian-Kanye West Feud Timeline
It was September 2009 at the MTV Video Music Awards when Kanye West took the stage and interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for Best Female Video.
September 2009
West grabbed the microphone from Swift after she began thanking the audience for her win with "You Belong With Me."[1] He declared that Beyoncé deserved the award for her "Single Ladies" video and that Swift did not merit the honor.[1] The incident drew boos from the crowd and immediate backlash across media outlets.[3] Swift stepped back as West held the stage for a moment before security escorted him away.[2] The moment marked the start of public tension between the two artists, with Swift later expressing surprise at the interruption in interviews.[4] West issued an apology on his blog days later, but the event lingered in pop culture discussions.[3]
February 2015
West and Swift appeared together at the Brit Awards in London on February 25.[3] They reconciled publicly, with Swift dancing onstage during West's performance of "All Day."[1] Kim Kardashian captured the interaction on her Instagram, posting a photo of the two chatting amicably backstage.[2] The images showed Swift smiling next to West.[4] Fans interpreted the moment as a full resolution, with media coverage highlighting the pair's friendly exchange.[3] Kardashian's post received widespread attention, framing the encounter as a positive step.[1]
January 2016
West called Swift in early January to discuss his upcoming single "Famous."[2] He asked her to announce the song's release on her Twitter account, but she declined the request.[1] During the conversation, Swift warned West about the track's misogynistic tone.[2] West did not seek full approval for the lyrics that referenced Swift directly.[3] Swift's publicist, Tree Paine, later clarified that West never called for permission on the specific line but only pitched the Twitter idea.[1] Paine emphasized that Swift remained unaware of the lyric "I made that bitch famous" at the time.[2] The call set the stage for renewed conflict as West proceeded with the song.[4]
February 2016
On February 16, West appeared backstage at "Saturday Night Live" and referred to Swift as a "fake ass" in a recorded conversation.[3] The comment, captured on video, circulated online and reignited scrutiny of their dynamic.[1] Swift's team did not respond publicly at first, but the remark added to building pressure ahead of "Famous."[2] Media outlets picked up the audio, portraying it as evidence of lingering resentment from West.[4] The incident occurred weeks after their January call.[3]
May 2016
West released "Famous" in May, including the line "I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / Why? I made that bitch famous."[2] Swift denied ever approving the derogatory reference.[1] The song appeared on West's album "The Life of Pablo," drawing immediate criticism for its tone toward Swift.[3] Swift's representatives reiterated that she had no prior knowledge of the full lyrics.[2] West defended the track in interviews, claiming Swift had given some consent during their call.[4] The release fractured their brief reconciliation, with Swift opting for silence initially as backlash grew.[1]
July 2016
On July 17 and 18, Kardashian posted snippets of a phone conversation between Swift and West on Snapchat.[1] The videos depicted Swift appearing to approve the use of her name in "Famous."[2] Kardashian claimed the clips proved Swift's complicity in the lyrics.[3] The posts went viral, sparking a wave of online support for Kardashian and West.[4] Swift responded through her publicist, stating the edited videos violated California's law on recording calls without consent.[1] She emphasized that the snippets lacked context and misrepresented the full discussion.[2] Swift vanished from public view for nearly a year as the fallout intensified.[3]
March 2019
Swift broke her silence in a March Elle interview, describing Kardashian and West as "bullies" who orchestrated an online hate campaign against her.[1] She detailed how the Snapchat posts led to widespread vilification, with fans turning against her en masse.[2] Swift recounted the psychological toll, noting the coordinated effort to damage her reputation.[3] The interview marked her first extended public reflection on the 2016 events.[4] Kardashian did not address the comments directly, but the piece reignited debate over the feud.[1]
March 2020
An unedited 25-minute audio of the 2016 phone call between Swift and West leaked online between March 20 and 22.[1] The full recording supported Swift's assertion that she never approved the "bitch" lyric.[3] It revealed West reading the line to her, with Swift expressing discomfort but not full endorsement.[2] The leak shifted some public opinion back toward Swift, prompting apologies from former critics.[4] West dismissed the audio's authenticity on social media, while Swift's team confirmed its legitimacy.[1] The release provided new evidence in the ongoing narrative of the dispute.[3]
February 2021
Kardashian filed for divorce from West on February 19.[3] The filing came after years of public strain in their marriage, unrelated directly to the Swift feud but occurring amid West's personal challenges.[1] Swift remained silent on the development, focusing on her own projects.[2] The divorce proceedings drew extensive coverage, with Kardashian citing irreconcilable differences.[4] It effectively removed Kardashian from direct association with West's past actions in the eyes of some observers.[3]
January 2023
Kardashian and her daughter North West posted a TikTok video in January, dancing to Swift's "Shake It Off."[1] The lighthearted clip showed North, then nine, leading the routine in their home.[2] Kardashian captioned it playfully, drawing millions of views.[3] Swift did not comment, but fans saw it as a subtle nod or possible olive branch.[4] The post contrasted sharply with the earlier hostility.[1]
December 2023
On December 6, Swift spoke about the "Famous" fallout in a Time magazine interview.[3] She described how the 2016 backlash dismantled her career and impacted her mentally.[1] Swift explained that the hate campaign left her isolated, requiring time to rebuild.[2] The interview coincided with her recognition as Time's Person of the Year.[4] Kardashian responded indirectly on social media, but no direct reconciliation followed.[3]
April 2024
Swift released "thanK you aIMee" on April 19 as part of her album "The Tortured Poets Department."[1] The title's capitalized letters spelled "KIM," and lyrics referenced a feud involving a child singing her songs.[2] Lines alluded to bullying and lasting grudges, interpreted widely as aimed at Kardashian.[3] The track's chorus thanked the unnamed figure for shaping her resilience.[4] Swift framed the song as closure in promotional materials, though she avoided explicit confirmation.[1]
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2009-09 | Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards after she won Best Female Video for 'You Belong With Me'.[3] |
| 2015-02-25 | Taylor Swift and Kanye West reconciled at the Brit Awards, with Kim Kardashian documenting their interaction on Instagram as Taylor danced during Kanye's 'All Day' performance.[3] |
| 2016-02-16 | Kanye West was recorded calling Taylor Swift a 'fake ass' backstage at Saturday Night Live, escalating tensions between them.[3] |
| 2016-01 | Kanye West called Taylor Swift to ask her to release his single 'Famous' on her Twitter account, which she declined; he also cautioned him about the song's misogynistic message.[3] |
| 2016-05 | Kanye West released the single 'Famous,' which referred to Taylor Swift as a 'bitch' that he made famous; Swift denied approving these specific lyrics.[3] |
| 2016-07-18 | Kim Kardashian released a secret recording of Taylor Swift's phone conversation with Kanye West on Snapchat, claiming it showed Taylor agreeing to the use of her name in 'Famous'.[3] |
| 2021-02-19 | Kim Kardashian officially filed for divorce from Kanye West.[3] |
| 2023-12-06 | Taylor Swift addressed the public fallout surrounding the 'Famous' call in a Time interview, stating her career was 'taken away' and the backlash affected her psychologically.[3] |
What we couldn't confirm
Rumors surfaced in February 2015 of a potential Taylor Swift and Kanye West collaboration that never materialized.[1] Kim Kardashian claimed on May 30, 2017, that Kendall Jenner never truly belonged to Swift's inner circle, a statement that remains disputed.[1] Debate persists over whether the lyrics in Swift's "Look What You Made Me Do," released on August 25, 2017, directly targeted the feud with Kardashian and West.[1] Some pointed to the font in Swift's "Reputation" album announcement on August 23, 2017, as echoing West's Saint Pablo tour merchandise, though no direct link was established.[1] Questions linger on whether Kardashian served as the explicit inspiration for "thanK you aIMee," despite the song's clear thematic ties.[1]
The feud shows no signs of full resolution, with Swift's recent music keeping the references alive as her career continues to evolve.
Sources
- [1] Reported Taylor Swift–Kanye West feud - Wikipedia — en.wikipedia.org
- [2] Reported Taylor Swift vs. Kim and Kanye: The Complete Timeline of Their Feud — etonline.com
- [3] A timeline of Taylor Swift's feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian — cosmopolitan.com
- [4] Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian Feud Timeline - YouTube — youtube.com
Frequently asked questions
What award was Taylor Swift accepting when Kanye West interrupted her?
Taylor Swift was accepting the award for Best Female Video.
What did Kanye West say about Beyoncé during the interruption?
Kanye West declared that Beyoncé deserved the award for her "Single Ladies" video.
What song was Taylor Swift being awarded for when Kanye West interrupted her?
Taylor Swift was being awarded for her song "You Belong With Me."