The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards may have been nearly five years ago, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still talk about that fateful day when Kanye West dared to interrupt Taylor Swift‘s acceptance speech by insisting that Beyoncé had the greatest video of all time? In a new interview with Steve McQueen for Interview, Kanye reflected on how he got over such a difficult time, especially with all the backlash he received.
MCQUEEN: But there must have been moments of doubt or depression or sadness. I mean, with what happened after the Taylor Swift incident [at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards] and all the negativity that came your way as the result of that. How did you deal with it all mentally, physically, and spiritually?
WEST: It’s funny that you would say “mentally, physically, spiritually” because my answer before you even said that was going to be “god, sex, and alcohol.”
MCQUEEN: People can get lost in all of those things. So how did you arrive where you are now after coming through that period?
WEST: Well, I don’t have an addictive personality, so that means that I can lean on what might be someone else’s vice just enough to make it through to the next day. You know, just enough religion, a half-cup of alcohol with some ice in it and a nice chaser, and then …
MCQUEEN: A lot of sex. [both laugh]
WEST: Yeah—a lot of sex. And then I’d make it to the next week.
Well, that’s… lovely. However, it wasn’t even the weirdest part of his interview. The weirdest part was when he compared being famous to space exploration:
MCQUEEN: I hate to put a stereotype on any profession, but there seems to be a certain loneliness associated with being a musician. Do you ever feel lonely?
WEST: Well, I’ve got my astronaut family. You know, becoming famous is like being catapulted into space—sometimes without a space suit. We’ve seen so many people combust, suffocate, get lost in all these different things. But to have an anchor of other astronauts and to make a little space family … I mean, it’s not like I’m the guy in The Hunger Games [2012] begging for people to like me. I’m almost the guy with the least amount of “likes.” I wanted a family. So god gives you opportunities, and you make sacrifices for something that’s greater.
All in all, this is one of Kanye’s sanest interviews, which I know isn’t saying much but it is at least an interesting look inside the mind of a delusional egomaniac. Well worth the read, but be warned – it’s a LONG one.
Thanks to Evil Beet
