When Swifties began leaving snake emojis and Reputation gifs on Kim Kardashian’s social media posts, many were reminded of their infamous drama.
Many think that Taylor Swift’s iconic “There Will Be No Explanation Just Reputation” line from her Reputation album also stems partly from his feud.
But what happened between them so long ago that led to all this? And how is Kanye West involved in this? Well, that’s a long story.
The drama between Taylor Swift, Kanye West, and Kim Kardashian began when West released his song “Famous” in February 2016. He claimed that he “made that b**** (referring to Swift) famous.” In June 2016, Kardashian claimed Swift approved the lyrics. Swift denied this. In March 2020, the entire phone call was leaked, revealing Swift’s reservations and proving that she had maintained her stance.
Explained: The Feud Between Taylor Swift, Kanye West, and Kim Kardashian
The feud between Taylor Swift, Kanye West, and Kim Kardashian has been fascinating and controversial for over a decade.
What began as a seemingly friendly relationship in 2009 took a dramatic turn in 2016 when Kanye West released his song “Famous,” sparking a fight that would dominate headlines and social media.
The entire ordeal is best explained by separating the significant incidents in this drama into specific years and months.
The Early Years of Friendship (2009-2015)
The story begins in 2009 when Kim Kardashian expressed her admiration for Taylor Swift, proclaiming herself the “biggest Taylor Swift fan.”
On September 13, 2009, at the MTV VMAs, the infamous awards show incident occurred when Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift’s famous acceptance speech for the Best Female Video for “You Belong With Me” at the MTV Video Music Awards.
He declared that Beyoncé had the best video ever, leaving Swift visibly stunned. Although she later made a triumphant comeback, the incident resulted in a swift and harsh backlash against West.
However, later, Kim and Taylor, The two celebrities, shared moments together at award shows, including the 2012 MTV EMAs and the 2015 Grammys. Their public interactions painted a picture of a budding friendship.
Swift and West’s Reconciliation (2015)
In August 2015, Taylor Swift and Kanye West appeared to bury the hatchet when the singer presented West with the coveted Video Vanguard Award at the MTV VMAs.
Their public embrace suggested that their feud was a thing of the past. However, this newfound friendship was short-lived.
The Release of “Famous” (February 2016)
The turning point came when Kanye West released his song “Famous” in February 2016. The lyrics contained a vulgar reference to Taylor Swift, with West claiming that he “made that b**** famous.”
The entire line is- “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / Why? I made that b**** famous.”
Swift publicly reacted during her Grammy acceptance speech, emphasizing the importance of hard work and not letting others take credit for one’s success.
Kim Kardashian’s Revelations (June 2016)
In June 2016, Kim Kardashian claimed in an interview with GQ that Taylor Swift had approved the controversial lyrics in “Famous.”
She stated that Swift knew about the song’s content and had even given her husband permission. This revelation ignited a firestorm of controversy.
Swift’s Response (June 2016)
Swift’s spokesperson quickly responded, contradicting Kardashian’s claims.
While acknowledging the phone call between Swift and West, the statement asserted that Taylor had never approved the lyrics and had declined West’s request to promote his song on her Twitter page.
The Snapchat Leak (July 2016)
Kim Kardashian escalated the feud by releasing edited snippets of a phone call between Taylor Swift and Kanye West on Snapchat.
The videos appeared to support Kardashian’s claims that Swift had knowledge of the lyrics. The internet reacted, and the hashtag #KimExposedTaylorParty trended.
Swift’s Counterattack (July 2016)
Taylor Swift defended herself, asserting that the leaked phone call didn’t prove she had approved the derogatory lyrics.
She emphasized that she had never heard the song before its release and expressed her desire to be excluded from the narrative surrounding the feud.
Musical References and Public Statements (2017-2020)
The feud continued to simmer beneath the surface, with Swift referencing the drama in her 2017 music video for “Look What You Made Me Do” and addressing it in interviews.
Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian claimed in early 2019 that the feud was over, stating they had all moved on.
The Full Phone Call Leak (March 2020)
In March 2020, extended portions of the famous/ infamous phone call between the two- Kanye West and Taylor Swift were leaked online.
The call revealed that West had not played the controversial lyrics for Swift and that she had expressed hesitation about the song’s content.
Swift and Kardashian’s Responses (March 2020)
Following the leak, Taylor Swift reiterated her position, stating that the call proved she had been truthful all along. Kim Kardashian maintained her stance, emphasizing that Swift had never denied the use of the word “b****” without her permission.
Recent Developments (2021-2023)
In late 2021, Kim Kardashian expressed her appreciation for Taylor Swift’s music during a podcast interview. In 2023, Kardashian further fueled speculation by sharing a Taylor Swift song on her Instagram Story during her birthday celebration.
Taylor Swift’s Perspective (December 2023)
As Taylor Swift was named TIME’s 2023 Person of the Year, she reflected on the feud’s impact on her career and personal life. She described the leaked phone call as a “career death” that had taken a severe toll on her mental health.
The feud between Taylor Swift, Kanye West, and Kim Kardashian has been a rollercoaster of public drama, leaked conversations, and shifting narratives.
While both parties have taken steps to move past the feud in recent years, its effects on their careers and personal lives continue to linger.
What do you think of this drama? Has it been stretched out too long? Do you think Kim and Kanye don’t get the backlash they deserve? Or is Taylor stretching this out unnecessarily long?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: People
