Amber Rose has opened up about her past relationship with Kanye West and the infamous incident at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) that caused a rift between the rapper and pop star Taylor Swift. Speaking on the latest episode of the podcast *Ball in the Family*, Rose revealed that she had encouraged West to consume Hennessy before the award show, a decision she now regrets.
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At the time, Rose was dating West, who is currently 48 years old. She recounted how she suggested that he should enjoy some cognac to “get in the mood” for the evening. “I’m like, ‘Babe, you got that bottle of Hennessy upstairs, like, you a superstar. You need to get the Henny… We need to be, you know, just taking shots of Henny on the carpet,” Rose, now 42, stated. However, she admitted that the encouragement to drink was not a wise choice, as the aftermath of the evening spiralled unexpectedly out of control.
The 2009 VMAs became notorious when West interrupted Swift while she was accepting her first award for Best Female Video for her song “You Belong with Me.” In a moment that has since become etched into pop culture history, West took to the stage, asserting that the accolade should have been awarded to Beyoncé instead. “Yo, Taylor, I’m really happy for you, I’ma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time!” he proclaimed, leaving both the audience and viewers in shock.
Reflecting on the chaotic moment, Rose expressed her disbelief. “I’m just sitting there and then he’s on stage and I’m like, ‘Oh s—,'” she said. “I was not expecting that… Do I agree with how he did it? No. But was he right? Yes.” Her comments reveal a complicated perspective on the matter, acknowledging both the impulsiveness of West’s actions and the validity of his opinion.
The incident triggered a lengthy and highly publicised feud between West and Swift, who is now 36 years old. Although the two artists briefly reconciled in 2015 during the VMAs when Swift presented West with the Video Vanguard Award, relations soured once again in 2016. West’s song “Famous” included controversial lyrics about Swift that reignited tensions between them.
Following their split in 2010 after two years together, Rose’s involvement in the situation has resurfaced in light of recent revelations. After the release of “Famous,” Kim Kardashian, then West’s wife, entered the fray, sharing snippets of a phone conversation that suggested Swift had prior knowledge of the song’s content. This only intensified the public scrutiny surrounding the three figures involved.
In a recent interview with TIME magazine, Swift reflected on the profound impact the incident had on her career and mental health. She described the fallout as a “career death,” stating, “Make no mistake — my career was taken away from me.” Swift recounted feelings of isolation and fear, revealing that she moved to a foreign country and struggled to engage with others, even withdrawing from many of her relationships.
“I pushed away most people in my life because I didn’t trust anyone anymore. I went down really, really hard,” she admitted. This candid admission sheds light on the psychological toll the incident took on her, marking a dramatic turn in her otherwise flourishing career.
The historical context of this feud highlights the complexities of celebrity dynamics and the pressures of public scrutiny. What was once seen as a spontaneous moment at an awards show has evolved into an ongoing dialogue about fame, relationships, and the repercussions of public actions.
As Rose reflects on the events leading up to the VMAs, her apologies for her role in encouraging West to drink have added another layer to an already intricate saga, one that continues to resonate within the music industry and its fanbase. The repercussions of that night are still felt today, illustrating how a single moment can alter careers and personal lives irrevocably.