Kanye West-Taylor Swift Incident - Obama Calls Kanye a Jackass

When the president-to-be name drops rapper Lil' Wayne during his 2008 campaign speeches, but calls another rap star a jackass during his presidency, you know that rapper screwed up. The president had a not so nice word to describe rapper Kanye West after the Taylor Swift Incident at the 2009 MTV Music Video Awards show (VMA's).

President Obama called Kanye a "jackass" during some off-the-record remarks on an ABC interview with Terry Moran, when asked about the rapper interrupting singer Taylor Swift on stage during her VMA's award acceptance. And that may have been the kindest word said about the rapper, as musicians including Kelly Clarkson, Pink and Katy Perry all had less-than-kind remarks about the crazed rap star's antics this past Sunday.

The Kanye West Taylor Swift incident happened on Sunday, September 14th, 2009 during the MTV Video Music Awards show. It was early on in the awards ceremony, just moments after legendary pop star Madonna spoke kind words about the late Michael Jackson, and Janet Jackson made a surprise performance in tribute to her late brother. The award for Best Female video was presented by Shakira and one of the young stars of the Twilight movies. Up for the moon man statue were singers Katy Perry, Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Beyonce and Taylor Swift. Swift was announced winner for her "You Belong with Me" video in which she sings about a guy she likes who likes the more popular, hip girl who cheerleads and wears short skirts. The video while not the greatest work of art, was celebrated by MTV for its merits, and Swift made her way onto stage to accept the famous Moon man statue.

Swift was shocked by the win, but tried to be gracious when she started her traditional round of thank you's. However, her on-stage speech was cut short when rap star Kanye West jumped up onto the stage out of nowhere, and grabbed the mic from her. West said he'd let Taylor finish in a minute, but first had something to say. The rapper told the audience and everyone watching that Beyonce had one of the greatest videos of all time (Single Ladies Put a Ring on It). A camera shot showed Beyonce sitting in the audience looking stunned at Kanye's rant. Kanye was soon off stage, and Taylor Swift just stood there shocked as fans began to chant for her, after booing Kanye. Swift tried to resume her speech, but was unable to due to MTV's scheduled Tracy Morgan/Eminem skit which popped up on a screen behind her.

Later in the night, Swift was allowed back on stage, due to the kindness and gracefulness of singer Beyonce. Beyonce had won the Video of the Year for the same video Kanye proclaimed great earlier, but the sweet R&B singer said she had had her first VMA win before and wanted Taylor to have hers. She invited the young star back on stage to have her VMA moment in a showing of true generosity and humility. Swift and Beyonce hugged several times with various singers and celebrities praising Beyonce for her display at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

Meanwhile, Kanye West is on serious damage control. The rapper has apologized three times, including Kanye West making a blog apology to Swift and one on national television on the Jay Leno Show Monday night. The cocky, controversial bestselling rapper has claimed he will take some time off for soul searching, and to figure out where to go from here. He clearly will have trouble working with quite a few stars after Sunday night's on-stage antics, including Pink, Kelly Clarkson, and Katy Perry. Even some of his longtime fans have claimed they are going to start boycotting West or booing him during any performance they happen to see. Not the smoothest move in terms of generating buzz and attention, so time will tell if people can forgive West for his actions.