Taylor Swift gets groveling apology from Billboard for using controversial ‘naked’ Kanye West clip in career highlights

Taylor Swift gets groveling apology from Billboard for using controversial 'naked' Kanye West clip in career highlights

As a die-hard Swiftie who has been following Taylor since her humble beginnings, I must say I am deeply disappointed and frustrated with Billboard’s list. It feels like the pop star who redefined the music industry, broke countless records, and inspired millions of fans worldwide is being overlooked yet again.

After causing controversy by featuring an unflattering wax figure of Taylor Swift in a video celebrating her career, Billboard issued an apology to the singer.

As a die-hard devotee, I can’t help but share the intriguing revelation that first caught my attention when none other than my idol, Kanye West, unveiled it in his Famous music video – an unexpected appearance of a controversial image that also featured nude depictions of other celebrities.

Billboard was quickly beset by a wave of angry fan complaints over using the nude was figure.

The publication apologized to Taylor Swift, readers, and viewers for including a misleading clip about her in a celebratory video. They’ve taken down the clip, expressing their regret for any harm caused by their mistake. This statement was shared on X (previously Twitter) at around midnight on November 28.

Notably, the shot has now been removed from the video tribute.

To this point, we haven’t figured out yet how that inappropriate picture ended up on Billboard’s compilation of significant moments from his career.

Taylor Swift gets groveling apology from Billboard for using controversial 'naked' Kanye West clip in career highlights

Taylor Swift gets groveling apology from Billboard for using controversial 'naked' Kanye West clip in career highlights
Taylor Swift gets groveling apology from Billboard for using controversial 'naked' Kanye West clip in career highlights

On Thursday, a supplementary clarification was added to Billboard’s apology following its approval by X users.

The figure’s origin was traced back to West’s renowned video, and it subsequently argued that the video itself qualified as revenge porn – an act considered illegal in the majority of U.S. states.

Since the image appears to have been crafted by an artist and doesn’t seem to serve an intentionally explicit or sexual purpose, it seems improbable that it would qualify as revenge porn in a legal context.

Yet, in a Forbes article written following the release of the video, Nicholas Rozansky proposed that Swift, aged 34, could potentially file a lawsuit against West for copyright violation if the statue was derived from a pre-existing copyrighted photograph or picture.

She might have been entitled to file a lawsuit for defamation or libel given the sexual nature of the sculpture, or alternatively, she could have leveraged California’s Right to Publicity law. This law empowers individuals to regulate how their name, appearance, likeness, or other distinct characteristics are commercially utilized.

Before the publication of Swift’s heartfelt apology, her supporters fiercely criticized Billboard on various social platforms over the video that ranked her as the second-best pop artist of the 21st century.

The figure came from the 2016 music video of Kanye West’s controversial song Famous, which features the lyric: ‘I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / Why? I made that b**** famous.’

In the controversial video, a life-size figure made of wax, representing no clothes, was positioned beside other well-known figures like Amber Rose, Donald Trump, Rihanna, and Kanye West, on a bed together.

Taylor Swift gets groveling apology from Billboard for using controversial 'naked' Kanye West clip in career highlights

During that period, the action drew strong criticism as potentially sexist, and there was a persistent conflict between Taylor Swift and Kanye West.

At one point, it was reported by Hollywood Life that Taylor Swift became extremely angry upon watching Kanye’s video. The source stated that she felt as though she had been subjected to an attack.

After Billboard opted to incorporate that particular clip into their video honoring her victories, numerous fans expressed frustration, even though the magazine issued an apology following its publication.

After Billboard posted its apology, fans continued to rage.

‘Okay, Billboard‘s intention was to recap everything that happened in her entire career, i get that. But was it really necessary to include THAT scene? Just nasty, disrespectful and unprofessional. #BillboardIsOverParty,’ one person wrote.

Taylor and her team should firmly respond, as what happened was both unacceptably unprofessional and troublesome from Billboard‘s end.

‘That was intentional and nasty.’

They might have selected one of her numerous pictures, but instead, they chose an image that doesn’t truly represent her. It seems disrespectful.

Taylor Swift gets groveling apology from Billboard for using controversial 'naked' Kanye West clip in career highlights
Taylor Swift gets groveling apology from Billboard for using controversial 'naked' Kanye West clip in career highlights
Taylor Swift gets groveling apology from Billboard for using controversial 'naked' Kanye West clip in career highlights
Taylor Swift gets groveling apology from Billboard for using controversial 'naked' Kanye West clip in career highlights
Taylor Swift gets groveling apology from Billboard for using controversial 'naked' Kanye West clip in career highlights
Taylor Swift gets groveling apology from Billboard for using controversial 'naked' Kanye West clip in career highlights
Taylor Swift gets groveling apology from Billboard for using controversial 'naked' Kanye West clip in career highlights
Taylor Swift gets groveling apology from Billboard for using controversial 'naked' Kanye West clip in career highlights
Taylor Swift gets groveling apology from Billboard for using controversial 'naked' Kanye West clip in career highlights
Taylor Swift gets groveling apology from Billboard for using controversial 'naked' Kanye West clip in career highlights
Taylor Swift gets groveling apology from Billboard for using controversial 'naked' Kanye West clip in career highlights

‘Disappointing choice by Billboard, disrespecting Taylor’s boundaries again.’ 

I’ve just witnessed Billboard’s actions, and I find it utterly reprehensible! I sincerely hope that Taylor will not be attending any future events with you. #BillboardNeedsARethink

As a devoted admirer, I find it utterly unjustifiable for you to resurface that footage and incorporate it into a tribute meant to honor Taylor’s artistic brilliance. By exploiting not only her emotional turmoil, but also committing an affront to her likeness in the process, your actions were callous and intended to garner attention towards your list. A sincere apology is due.

@Billboard brought up the Kanye West controversy and the significant video and lyrics in their announcement video for Taylor’s inclusion in the ‘Greatest Artists List.’ However, it seems unclear as to how this relates to her legacy and achievements. Your comment appears disrespectful.

It’s shocking that Billboard chose to reuse the footage, which was previously used to embarrass and torment Taylor Swift, in a video intended to celebrate her artistic achievements. Such disregard is unacceptable. She deserves an apology. #BillboardNeedsToDoBetter

To put it straightforwardly, it’s important to understand that this was not an innocent mistake. It was a deliberate act with the intent to humiliate, as evidenced by the use of a revenge porn image in a video supposedly celebrating Taylor Swift’s accomplishments. The individual responsible for approving such a disrespectful action should be held accountable for their actions.

TopMob has contacted Billboard for comment. 

Back in 2009, on September 13th at Radio City Music Hall in New York City during the MTV Video Music Awards, is where the initial conflict between Taylor and Kanye took root.

Taylor Swift gets groveling apology from Billboard for using controversial 'naked' Kanye West clip in career highlights
Taylor Swift gets groveling apology from Billboard for using controversial 'naked' Kanye West clip in career highlights

During a well-known interruption, Kanye famously disrupted Taylor’s acceptance speech for the Best Female Video award (for “You Belong With Me”), an honor that was also nominated for Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies.

He stepped onto the stage, snatched the microphone from the singer, and said to Taylor, “Hey, Taylor, I’m genuinely thrilled for you. However, let me interrupt your moment. Beyoncé’s video is among the greatest ever made!

After their apparent reconciliation in the years that followed, they seemed cordial at various functions, but tensions escalated following the launch of the song titled “Famous.

At one point, Kayne stated that Taylor had consented to being called a “so-and-so” in the song’s lyrics, alluding to the VMAs controversy.

Taylor asserted that no such agreement was ever reached, which subsequently sparked a public disagreement between her and West following their release in July 2016 of a conversation between West and Taylor regarding the lyrics of his song “Famous.

In a tweet following the release of the call, Kim referred to Taylor as a snake, stating, “It seems today really is National Snake Day! With all the holidays being created nowadays, it’s no surprise they even have one for snakes.

2019 saw Taylor open up to Vogue about managing the high-profile controversy, sharing that she funneled her energy into her work instead.

She remarked that undergoing a widespread public rebuke, where millions express your supposed dismissal, can be an incredibly lonely ordeal. Essentially, when someone labels another person as “canceled,” they are referring to a human being, not a television program.

Taylor Swift gets groveling apology from Billboard for using controversial 'naked' Kanye West clip in career highlights

You’ve been repeatedly messaging this individual with messages that may come across as threats to silence them, make them leave, or even imply harm, such as suggesting they take their own life.

A new wave of criticism towards Billboard emerged following fan outcry on social media, as they felt disappointed that she was placed second instead of being declared the top pop star of the 21st century.

Following her receiving such a desirable recognition, it became clear that the ensuing debate on social media about her narrowly missing the top spot further underscores her immense influence and reach.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it like this: When questioned about not giving their number to Beyoncé, who’s already a musical powerhouse, Billboard pointed out that Taylor Swift started her career later in the millennium, particularly in terms of her genre and overall music scene.

Still, Swifties were enraged by the editorial decision made by Billboard’s staff, who undertook the difficult task of ranking the top 25 greatest pop stars of the 21st century.

Beneath the Instagram post, several followers voiced their displeasure by labeling the list as a “joke” and emphatically stating that the Fortnite creator had been unfairly overlooked or denied recognition.

One person remarked, “This is disappointing and really needs to be revised.” Or alternatively, “This isn’t right at all; the list should be reviewed.

‘Without a doubt, she deserves the top spot. She isn’t merely the greatest artist of this century; she stands as the biggest artist of all time.’

A user recently inquired, “According to Billboard, Taylor Swift ranked 8th on their ‘greatest artist of all time’ list, but she isn’t considered the greatest artist of this century. Surprisingly, Beyoncé doesn’t even make it into the top 10 and this was before her albums like Folklore, Evermore, re-recordings, Midnights, The Eras Tour, and Taylor’s Version (of her past discography),” they wondered.

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2024-11-29 03:49

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