I was pretty surprised over how much debate there was yesterday on the Taylor Swift and Kanye West VMAs performances story. In my opinion, Kanye was still a douche and Taylor was still hurt by him crashing her acceptance speech at last year’s ceremony. Many of you said that Taylor had more than benefited from that whole debacle and that she should get over it. Her pain seemed as genuine to me as Kanye reveling in his assh*le status and telling us to drink to it. I liked how commenter Atticus wrote that Taylor is young, which explains how affected she was by the incident. “Taylor Swift was 19 when the ‘moon man hijacking’ happened. Of course it was a big deal to her, and of course she’s going to be dramatic about it – she was 19! Now she’s 20! When I read my journals from those ages I just shake my head and think, good Lord, the melodrama.” Now E! has a story that may show just how bothered Taylor still is by the whole thing. They claim that VMA producers were pushing for a duet between Kanye and Taylor on which to end the VMAs, but that Taylor hemmed and hawed and decided not to go through with it at the last minute. I don’t like Ted Casablanca’s bitchy take on this story, but at least the way he tells it makes sense:

If you thought Taylor Swift’s performance at last night’s MTV Video Music Awards—in which she replayed Kanye West stage-jacking from last year then crooned about how he’s still growing but remains innocent…uh, we think—was a tad uncomfy, you’re not the only one.

Certain MTV execs were not pleased with Ms. Swift’s performance—or lack-there-of, as it might be. Not only did her appearance leave some viewers scratching their heads, but Tay also shied away from a proposed duet between the two superstars—according to impeccable MTV sources. Keep in mind this was never an official duet planned by the hip network, but, merely one several key MTV players were very much pushing for.

For the record, MTV was gaga on everything Taylor. Certainly its president, Van Toffler, who said, “There was never a plan for Taylor Swift and Kayne to perform together and we were absolutely thrilled with her performance.”

Also, Swift’s reps claim likewise—that there was never any kind of a request or a push for such a joint performance. Which is unlike what other uber-inside MTV sources are telling us. But, alas, that’s what a goss column’s for, right?

Before we get to rest of the good dirt, trust us, folks in the Nokia Theatre, where the VMAs were held, were just as confused listening to T.Swift—wandering around her bizarre broken down home set sans shoes and singing a little ditty that everyone knew was addressed to the Kanye—as we’re sure you viewers at home were.

“The house is dead! The house is dead!” An überpowerful source that helped plan the night cried as Tay slowly walked back across stage after her performance to silence from the stunned crowd.

And not stunned in a good way, that’s for sure.

The whole performance was over-the-top melodramic—Taylor’s signature style, natch—for an incident that, in retrospect, really wasn’t a big deal. And from a gal who is supposedly totally over the whole ordeal, no less. Guess not, huh, Taylor?

‘Cause if Tay put the incident in her past, then she’d be up to show there are no hard feelings by taking the stage with Mr. West himself, which everyone at MTV and Team Kanye thought would happen.

Yep, despite what’s been reported, a performance was proposed for Taylor to take the stage and help Kanye close the show, finally putting to rest the ordeal that everyone else is so dunzo with.

The only person left to sign up for the onstage show of forgiveness (and, let’s be honest, a huge press moment for both of the two, no doubt) was Taylor. And she reportedly took her sweet time deciding…Like the entire friggin’ show.

Apparently, Tay refused to go on with Kanye, and she had people from MTV, Camp Kanye and her own folks working on overdrive throughout the duration of the show to see if she’d change her mind.

Guess she never did.

“Well, she’s a major-ass rising talent, girl’s got her right, right?”

[From E! Online]

Taylor asked us to forgive Kanye in her song, but she might just have been asking herself to do that, too. I think the whole thing really got to her, I think she had more than every right to let it get to her, and the way she’s handled it has shown what a sensitive caring person she is. Kanye is just a douchey showman and he knows that too. It doesn’t mean he’s a big old creep or that he had nefarious intentions. In no way do I think he should continue to be bashed for it. These two are who they are and they were both affected in their way by their very public run-in. All that considered, as Atticus and many of you wrote on that story, it’s time everyone moved on. It would have been nice to see these two publicly mend fences though, maybe to get some damn closure. US Weekly reports that they did this behind the scenes and talked in Taylor’s dressing room backstage. They quote a source that said “everything is good between them now.”

Last night at the VMAs Taylor Swift sang a ballad she composed for Kanye West. The lyrics showed understanding and forgiveness with a theme of redemption. She gave Kanye way too much credit. The guy crashed her moon man acceptance speech last year. Yes he apologized, but he’ll never really “get it” and in no way does he deserve that kind of thoughtful song. He’s an ass no matter how much he protests about it, and he proved that with his song choice for the awards show one year after he became an Internet meme. In his song “Runaway” he kind of reveled about what a jerk he was, although at least he seemed to admit it. Here’s a comparison of Taylor and Kanye’s lyrics for the songs they performed referencing the minor scandal:

Kanye’s “Runaway” (partial):
I always find something wrong.
You’ve been putting up with my sh*t way too long.
I’m so gifted at finding what I don’t like the most.
So I think it’s time for us to have a toast.
Let’s have a toast for the douchebags.
Let’s have a toast for the assholes.
Let’s have a toast for the scumbags.
Everyone of them that I know.
Let’s have a toast for the jerkoffs that will never take work off.

Baby I got a plan. Run away as fast as you can… Runaway from me baby.

Taylor Swift’s “Innocent” (partial):
Time turns flames to ambers
You’ll have new Septembers
Everyone of us has messed up too
Mind change like the weather
I hope you remember today is never too late
To be brave (ohh)

It’s all right, just wait and see
Your streaming lights are bright to me oh
Who you are is not where you’ve been
You’re still an innocent
It’s OK, life is a tough crowd
32 and still growing up now
Who you are is not what you did
You’re still an innocent
Lost your balance on a tight rope
It’s never too late to get it back

[via MTV]

Kanye has no balance on that tightrope, he’s pulled it off the wall, has jumped to the ground and is swinging it around while he swills cognac. That’s always how he’s been and someone is bound to get hurt. I’m not going to toast that douche or get philosophical about why he turned out that way and where he can go from here. There’s no point feeling sorry for him.

Let’s compare how pitchy these two were. Taylor was a little pitchy but that’s typical for her and she did a great job overall. Kanye cannot sing and really needs that autotune he overuses. At least he sang live, unlike Justin Bieber.

Kanye’s song performance:

Taylor’s performance:

Note: the video of Kanye above will only play for users in the US. I’m very sorry for this and could not find another version as of press time. If you’re outside the US you can hear it through this link.

I’ve been hearing that Kanye West has taken his EPIC ALL CAPS EGO to Twitter, but I hadn’t really been paying attention. Apparently, he spends most of the time tweeting about designers and what to wear and what kind of etiquette the A-Listers should be adhering to. It all seemed to start very, very early Saturday morning when Kanye went on a pretty controlled two-hour Twitter rant/apology/WTH to Taylor Swift. You can read the whole f-cking thing on Kanye’s Twitter, but thankfully, Gizmodo and other sources have already edited this junk into a convenient letter form. Here you go:

Man I love Twitter.

I’ve always been at the mercy of the press, but no more… The media tried to demonize me. They wanted y’all to believe I was a monster in real life so you guys wouldn’t listen or buy my music anymore. I feel like they were waiting for the opportunity to go in all the way on me, and when it came, they beat me to a pulp. Even now a lot of articles start their first two paragraphs about how much of an a–hole I am.

I accept the idea (ideal) that perception is reality. When I say perception is reality I mean whatever you think is the truth is your truth. Some people’s truth is Kanye is racist—It’s not my truth, but I do believe it’s my Karma… walk with me…

With the help of strong will, a lack of empathy, a li’l alcohol, and extremely distasteful and bad timing, I became George Bush over night. How deep is the scar? I bled hard. Cancelled [a] tour with the number one pop star in the world. Closed the doors of my clothing office. Had to let employees go.

For the first time, I felt the impact of my brash actions. People booed when I would go to concerts and the performer mentioned my name. Remember in Anchor Man when Ron Burgandy cursed on air, and the entire city turned on him? But this wasn’t a joke. This was and is my real life.

There are people who don’t dislike me… they absolutely hate me! I was chilling with this white girl, having a conversation, and she cut me off and said, ‘Hold up—I thought you didn’t like us.’ That’s when you realize perception is reality.

I’ve been straying from this subject on Twitter but I have to give it to you guys raw now. If you Google “a–hole,” my face may very well pop up 2 pages into the search. Some people say, ‘Why worry about the haters?’ This is bigger than just the concept of haters. I have a mission in life to bring truth and beauty through my music and the visuals that anchor around it.

The media has successfully diminished the “receptive” audience of (3rd person) KANYE WEST. Taking a 15 second blip, the media have successfully painted the image of the ANGRY BLACK MAN, The King Kong theory. I’m the guy who, at one point, could perform the Justin Timberlake on stage and everyone would be sooo happy that I was there.

People tweeted that they wish I was dead… No listen. They wanted me to die, people. I carry that. I smile and take pictures through that. I wear my scars. It’s almost like I have to wear a suit to juxtapose my image. And I won’t lie: It works.

I wrote a song for Taylor Swift that’s so beautiful, and I want her to have it. If she won’t take it then I’ll perform it for her. She had nothing to do with my issues with award shows. She had no idea what hit her. She’s just a li’l girl with dreams like the rest of us. She deserves the apology more than anyone. Thank you Biz Stone and Evan Williams for creating a platform where we can communicate directly. We’re both artists, and the media and managers are trying to get between us. Everyone wants to capitalize off this in some way. I’m ready to get out of my own way. The ego is overdone… like hoodies.

I know there are family members friends and fans that have literally fought for me. There are people who have named their kids after me—can you imagine that next day in school. Even though I don’t have kids, I am responsible for those who love and represent me and what they have to deal with on a day to day, defending “The American Psycho.”

I watched Justin Timberlake at the Grammies lose every televised award including album of the year, which the Dixie Chicks won. I would have run on stage for Justin that night because Sexy Back (in my mind) was that important, that impactful to our culture.

It’s not about race, America. No one in our position ever stands up and says anything anymore. I have given my awards to other groups multiple times on national TV; they never showed that this past year, during the massacre of Kanye.

Who’s seen the play Wicked? I’ve seen it 4 times! Other than loving the music acting and costumes… it’s my story! The Wicked Witch of the West basically is so convicted to tell her truth [that] when she does it, she is outcast by society and turned wicked.

With new-found humility, who am I to run on stage? I would never ever again in a million years do that. Sorry to let you down. It is distasteful to cut people off as a general rule. What’s the point of dressing tastefully if I’m going to act the complete opposite? Yes I was that guy. A 32 year old child. When I woke up from the crazy nightmare I looked in the mirror and said GROW UP KANYE. I take the responsibility for my actions. I am not a bad person. Even in that moment I was only trying to do good.

But people don’t always need my help. Beyonce didn’t need that. MTV didn’t need that. And Taylor and her family, friends, and fans definitely didn’t want or need that.

These aren’t regular tweets… this is stream of consciousness… I want you guys to know and feel where my head is at… It feels like the movie Heat, when you wanted Deniro to make it… You want the bad guy to make it.

These tweets have no manager, no publicist, no grammar checking [ed: they do now.]… this is raw. Humanity and Empathy are two of the four principles at facebook. Those were the two principles I was missing on that evening.

Why are there so many tweets? Well, this isn’t a simple subject. There are layers to this beyond me running on stage. You’ve got the top layer: Kanye’s rude! (If I speak in 3rd person it’s because I’m quoting people; sometimes I forget to put [in] the quotations. You know my grammar.) You’ve got a layer of order… this is how things are supposed to go, this is how it’s always been. etc; you’ve got a layer of-what is [it], reality? You really want this guy to die over an award show? Wooooooow… You’ve got the Media play… Who benefitted off of the moment? MTV? JAY LENO? BEYONCE? ALL FORMS OF MEDIA? TAYLOR? KANYE WEST? Who gained? Who lost?

Walk with me people… let’s break this down for real now. I might get in trouble again. WHO BENEFITED, FOR REAL, PEOPLE? A year later where do we stand?

There’s a layer of ‘hey Kanye said what I was thinking.’ There’s a layer of… Entertainment: We are entertainers and this is only TV, not the War. Why was it made into such a race issue? Taylor loves rap music… I love country music. TAYLOR LOVES RAP MUSIC… I LOVE COUNTRY MUSIC. When I write songs like Heartless, I always say “is this melody good enough to be a country song or a broadway song?”

I’ve hurt, I’ve bled, I’ve learned. I only want to do good. I am passionate. I am human. I am real.

I wish I could meet every hater. I wish I could talk to every hater face to face, and change their opinion of me, one conversation at a time. I wish they all knew how much I really cared about music and pop culture and art and people’s feelings. I wish they could accept that I’ve grown and only want to do good for the world. I want to help as many people as I can. I want to help starting with the music and ending with the smile. I want to win their hearts back so I can continue to bring my take on culture to the masses with a clean opinion.

It starts with this: I’m sorry Taylor.

[Kanye’s epic Twitter apology, via Gizmodo]

You know the weird thing? I totally understood most of this. And I don’t think Kanye was drunk (but maybe a little stoned?), and I know what point the was trying to make: that he was vilified for making Taylor Swift cry, and though he deserved some of the criticism, it got overblown, and maybe some of that had to do with the big bad black guy making a little white girl cry. Of course, I’m not sure if he’s really making his point by comparing himself with: DeNiro in Heat, The Wicked Witch, Ron Burgundy and Patrick Bateman from American Psycho. And of course, this “apology” is still all about Kanye’s EGO, despite my new favorite quote, “The ego is overdone… like hoodies.” Words to live by, bitches. Trending #ITSAPROCESS right now.

CB and I had a much too long conversation about “model”/professional girlfriend Amber Rose yesterday. Like, I maybe it was because yesterday’s news was so slow? I don’t know. But for some reason CB and I sat here and shot the breeze for way too long, theorizing about whether Kanye West and Amber had broken up, and whether she was just trying to get attention or if she was now boning Reggie Bush. It all started when Bossip had this story about Amber and Reggie looking really friendly at some event over the weekend. Reggie, having recovered from dating Kim Kardashian, seemed to be eyeing up the ladies at the party, and Amber caught his attention (photo here). This seemed weird to me, because as far as I could remember, Kanye and Amber hadn’t officially declared they were over. Now Us Weekly has a source who claims that Kanye dumped Amber – because he needed to concentrate on his art. So Amber’s looking for a new player.

Kanye West and his model-girlfriend Amber Rose are taking a break, a source close to the rapper, 33, tells UsMagazine.com.

“They are still good friends,” the source tells Us. “Kanye is consumed with recording his comeback record in Hawaii and had to shut it all off. When he’s in work mode, he can’t handle a relationship. He told Amber he needs to devote everything right now to his craft.”

Rose, 27, isn’t sulking.

Over the Fourth of July weekend, she was spotted making out with Kim Kardashian’s ex Reggie Bush at Axe Lounge in NYC’s The Hamptons — as West’s hit “Flashing Lights” blared from the speakers.

Nevertheless, a second source tells Us: “I wouldn’t say it’s over for good” for West and Rose. “It’s always off-and-on when it’s convenient for these two. He doesn’t go out anymore and she loves it, so he lets her. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are seen together again next week.”

[From Us Weekly]

I was never really sure whether I could buy Amber and Kanye’s relationship, so hearing that they broke up isn’t that big. I always thought it was more performance art on Kanye’s part. Or the desire to just have a steady girlfriend, a “muse” that he could have on his arm. Or maybe it was true love and Kanye just needed to put his art first. I don’t know. But I’m glad I finally have an answer to my question about whether Amber was getting her Reggie Bush freak on behind Kanye’s back.

Amber & Kanye, 2009-2010. All photos courtesy of WENN.

Kanye West and his barely and/or poorly dressed paramour, Amber Rose, have been hitting up Paris fashion week in various outrageous outfits, many featuring animal fur. As many of you know, the fur industry uses barbaric practices and videos have come out that show extremely inhumane treatment of animals skinned for fur. (Here’s a link to Wikipedia’s description of the controversy of fur farming, which is less disturbing that some of the videos made of these poor creatures. I don’t even want to describe what happens to the animals it’s so bad.)

The animal rights activists rightfully trashed arrogant Kanye online due to all of the overpriced tributes to animal cruelty that he and his girlfriend were wearing. In response, Kanye penned a long all caps rant on his blog comparing wearing fur to personal freedom, civil rights, and creativity. GMAFB! I believe that Kanye has already deleted this regrettable post from his blog as I couldn’t find it there. Plenty of other outlets have preserved it for posterity and for poking fun at Kanye, though:

WHEN IT’S ALL SAID AND DONE, REMEMBER THE FEARLESS, REMEMBER THE DREAMERS, EMEMBER THOSE WHO REPRESENT THE GHETTO…THE FAIRY TALE OF NOTHING TO SOMETHING. I’M BRIEFLY SADDENED BY NEGATIVE COMMENTS, BUT I HAVE TO REMEMBER THOSE PEOPLE ARE SCARED, INCAPABLE OR JUST PLAIN IDIOTS. WE ARE THE F*CKING ROCK STARS BABY. NO COCAINE, JUST LIFE MY NIGGAS!! NO COCAINE, JUST LIFE! IT’S FUNNY TO ME WHEN FASHION BLOGGERS DOWN OUR OUFITS AND THEN SUPER JOCK OUTLANDISH SHIT ON THE RUNWAY BUT THEN THEY DRESS MAD PRUDE AND DON’T LIVE FASHION. WE LIVE IT MAN. F*CK THAT, WE LIVE IT!!! WE LIVE IT SO HARD PEOPLE LIVE THROUGH US! WE REPRESENT YOUR INNER SPIRIT!! THE CHILD IN US ALL, THE BRUTAL HONESTY, THE NAIVETY, THE BRAVE WARRIOR, THE ADRENALINE THAT ALLOWS A MOTHER TO LIFT A CAR IF HER CHILD WAS TRAPPED UNDER IT! REMEMBER, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN EVERYBODY DISSED MICHAEL JACKSON EVERY CHANCE THEY COULD. IMAGINE THE PRESSURE OF BEING A TRUE ICON. VERY FEW HUMAN BEINGS ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO TAKE CONSTANT HATE!!! IF WE DON’T DO WHAT YOU FEEL IS THE SHIT, YOU BEAT US UP VERBALLY AND MENTALLY, LIKE A CATHOLIC SCHOOL TEACHER BEATING A CREATIVE STUDENT INTO SUBMISSION. I CAN HEAR YOU SCREAMING ‘COLOR INSIDE THE LINES!!!’ WELL F*CK YOUR COLORING BOOK, COLOR BY NUMBERS APPROACH TO LIFE. AT THE END OF THE DAY WHO ARE WE HURTING??? OH “THE NEW BLACK???” SINCE BARACK IS PRESIDENT BLACKS DON’T LIKE FUR COATS, RED LEATHER, AND FRIED CHICKEN ANY MORE?! WHEN YOU TRULY UNDERSTAND CULTURAL SETTINGS, BOUNDARIES, AND OUR MODERN DAY CASTE SYSTEMS, THEN YOU CAN FEEL THE GLORY AND PAIN FROM THE DAYS OF KINGS IN AFRICA TO THE NEW KINGS OF THE MEDIA. LET THE BALL PLAYERS DANCE AFTER THEY SCORE! IT’S LIFE MY NIGGAS, IT’S LIFE! REMEMBER CLOTHING IS A CHOICE. WE WERE BORN NAKED!!! FRESH IS AN OPINION, LOVE IS OBJECTIVE, TASTE IS SELECTIVE, AND EXPRESSION IS MY FAVORITE ELECTIVE. NO MORE POLITICS OR APOLOGIES!!!

[From Kanye West's Blog via D-Listed]

Imma let you finish, but I have to say that Rip Torn had the greatest meltdown of the entire weekend.

If Kanye isn’t apologizing then why he didn’t leave this nonsensical rant up? There are more logical leaps in that paragraph than your average Fox News pundit makes in a day. (Ok, an hour.) In Kanye’s mind, there’s somehow a connection between slavery and calling people cruel for choosing to wear fur. It’s soooo oppressive when people make fun of the luxury coat you were comped while you get paid to sit your privileged ass in a chair watching a fashion show and getting your picture taken. Poor, poor Kanye. He just needs to express himself through fashion and never hear a peep of discouragement or he’ll get out the caps lock and the Hennessy. It’s ok, though, when he crashes the stage at an awards ceremony and interrupts a 19 year-old girl’s acceptance speech.

Kanye West has had such a douche-filled year, he decided to do something to alleviate the swarm of bad press. Kanye and his girlfriend Amber Rose volunteered at a Los Angeles homeless shelter over the holidays, and spent several hours serving lunch. Will this help? Probably. It made me stop and rethink Kanye and whether or not we were too harsh on him throughout the year. Granted, he made some supremely dumb, egotistical, crazy moves. But he’s not the devil. Here’s more about Kanye and Amber’s smart move:

Kanye West is ready to move back into the spotlight in a positive way. The Grammy Award winning rapper spread holiday cheer this weekend when he and his girlfriend Amber Rose volunteered their services to the Los Angeles Mission.

West and Rose donated their time to serve lunch to the homeless the day after Christmas (Dec. 26). The non profit organization has been assisting the homeless in the city’s “Skid Row” district for over 70 years.

“It’s just important [to give back] when you’re very blessed,” West said of volunteering. “[It's nice] to spread your blessings and take time out, especially during the holidays, to appreciate people who never get that appreciation. It makes me feel really good to come out here, [with] my family, and I just thank y’all [the Los Angeles Mission] for allowing us to be apart of this.”

[From BET]

Lots of celebrities work with the LA Mission, and many volunteer around the holidays, but homelessness is still an epidemic, especially in larger cities. I hope Kanye keeps up his involvement, because they need him. I really think Kanye has taken the criticism to heart – for the past several months, he’s been very, very low-key, very few red carpets, very few all-caps blog rants, very few douchey interviews about how great he is. While I don’t think Kanye did end up going into rehab, I do think he’s taken a good hard look at himself and he’s trying to become a better man. Maybe I’m just on old softie, but I want Kanye to come back! He was fun sometimes!

Kanye West and Amber Rose leaving ‘Sherlock Holmes’ on December 27, 2009, and at the MTV Awards on September 13, 2009. Credit: WENN.

Remember those interesting Lady Gaga photos from last week? David LaChapelle photographed Gaga for the deluxe issue of her album The Fame Monster, and it seems Gaga’s friend Kanye stopped by the shoot to pose for some photos too (photo above). This photo scares the crap out of me. I think it’s Kanye’s eyes. He borrowed Amber Rose’s freaky pale blue contacts or something. Anyway, I found the photo on True/Slant, and they analyze its racial and political significance, something about Kanye being cast as Gaga’s demonic savior or something. Read the analysis here if you care!

In other Kanye news, a few days ago I was wondering aloud if Kanye West and Amber Rose were still together. Allegedly, Rihanna had given Kanye a private, cheesy dance to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” while they were both in London, but I wasn’t sure if I believed it. For one, there was the Amber situation. Two, there was the plausible Rihanna-Justin Timberlake situation. While JT is still up in the air, I know have visual confirmation on Amber Rose and Kanye! They were photographed exiting a movie theatre in Los Angeles last night. They had seen Avatar.

By the way, what the hell is Amber Rose wearing? Something from the Lindsay Lohan cracked-out leggings line, perchance? If you’re going to wear pants or leggings, shouldn’t you make sure half of your leg isn’t exposed? Why not just wear a skirt?

Kanye and Amber exiting ‘Avatar’ in LA on December 22, 2009. Credit: WENN. LaChapelle photo courtesy of True/Slant.

It took me a minute to track down the original report, but I think this is it – The Daily Mirror reported this weekend that Rihanna and Kanye West were all over each other at a London club, and that Rihanna gave Kanye a “private dance” to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You”. Which is cheesy, right? Like, I’m pretty sure Rihanna is above that. I just checked, and Rihanna was back in London last week, but she spent the weekend in New York, most likely snowed in. So this report could be true, if it’s about something that happened last Wednesday or something.

Forget Love Lockdown, it was more of a love lock-in when Rihanna and Kanye West met…The pair flirted outrageously and dirty-danced during a wild night, ending with a special 90-minute lock-in at London’s Whisky Mist.

Ri, currently in town promoting her new album, hooked up with the US megastar during a champagne-fuelled evening at the Royals’ favourite club. As the Rehab star boogied with female pals – dancing to a medley of cheesy Chrimbo classics – Kanye slipped in through a side door.

With his six-strong entourage, he joined the singer’s VIP table and ordered several £400 bottles of Dom Perignon Rose.

Our mole says: “When Kanye came in, he immediately gave her a huge hug and kiss, and sat down with her. The pair were chatting at length, ignoring everyone else. Then Mariah’s All I Want For Christmas Is You came on. Rihanna stood up with a couple of pals and started waving her hands in the air.”

“She stood in front of Kanye giving him the benefit of a very private dance – and he loved every second. When people started filtering out of the club at 3am, Rihanna was still in a party mood – so the group had their very own lock-in, with free-flowing drinks and their choice in music. They left around 4.30am.”

Of course, with Kanye happily dating American model Amber Rose, we’re assured he and Ri remain “strictly friends”.

Let’s hope there wont be a lump of coal in Kanye’s stocking on Christmas morning…

[From The Daily Mirror]

There are several reasons why I don’t believe this, beyond the cheese factor of giving a private “sexy” dance to that song. First – I’m not even sure if Kanye was in London, because there are very few photos of him for the past months, and he has been keeping a very low profile. Secondly, I’m pretty sure Kanye is still pretending to be with Amber Rose. Third, if I was going to place bets on Rihanna’s potential hookups, I’d put her with Justin Timberlake before Kanye.

Rihanna doing a pre-taped performance for Carson Daly’s New Year’s Eve show in New York, on December 19, 2009. Credit: WENN.

The real question is, “Will the Grammys even let Kanye West in?” The answer: probably. Because it will be good television. Because the Grammy nominations just came out, and it’s looking like it’s going to be another head-to-head match-up between Beyonce and Taylor Swift. The two ladies lead in Grammy nomination this year, with Taylor receiving 8 noms to Beyonce’s 10 noms, and the ladies are even competing with each other for song of the year, record of the year and album of the year. Here’s People’s rundown of the noms:

Taylor Swift’s amazing year continued at full speed as the teen sensation received eight Grammy nominations Wednesday – topped only by Beyoncé’s 10.

And with West not far behind, joining the Black Eyed Peas and Maxwell with six nods each from their music-industry peers, the stage is set for another awards show showdown. But can it top West’s bizarre microphone grab during Swift’s acceptance speech at the MTV Video Awards?

Naming the Grammy nominees was no quiet affair, either. Kicking off the big reveal was George Lopez , who was star struck by Smokey Robinson and Ringo Starr staring at him from ringside at Wednesday’s The Grammy Nominations Concert Live: Countdown to Music’s Biggest Night at LA’s Club Nokia. Still, the comic and TV host still found the words to announce the nominations for Song of the Year.

And they would be Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face,” Maxwell’s “Pretty Wings,” Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody” and Swift’s “You Belong with Me.”

In the Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals category, the nominees are the Black Eyed Peas, for “I Gotta Feeling”; Bon Jovi, for “We Weren’t Born to Follow”; The Fray, for “Never Say Never”; Darryl Hall and John Oates, for “Sara Smile”; and MGMT, for “Kids.”

Katy Perry announced the Best Rock Album contenders: AC/DC, for Black Ice; Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood, for Live from Madison Square Garden; Green Day, for 21st Century Breakdown; Dave Matthews Band, for Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King; and U2, for “No Line on the Horizon”].

Dwight Yoakum named the Best County Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal hopefuls: Brooks and Dunn, for “Cowgirls Don’t Cry”; the Zac Brown Band, for “Chicken Fried”; Lady Antebellum, for “I Run to You”; Rascal Flatts, for “Here Comes Goodbye”; and Sugarland, for “It Happens.”

Robinson and Starr had the honor of naming those in the running for Record of the Year and Album of the Year. For Record: Beyoncé’s “Halo,”, Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling,” Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody,” Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” and Swift’s “You Belong with Me.”

“Don’t worry, Taylor,” advised Robinson. “Kanye West is not here.”

Album of the Year nominees are Beyoncé’s I Am Sasha Fierce, the Black Eyed Peas’ The End, the Dave Matthews Band’s Big Whiskey and Swift’s Fearless.

The hour-long nominations concert, broadcast on CBS, also featured a tribute to the late Michael Jackson, performed by Maxwell, as well as the debut of Nick Jonas & the Administration, who were introduced by Nick’s brothers, Kevin and Joe.

The concert emcee was LL Cool J, whose opening routine contained the lyrical phrase, “No need to adjust your TV/It’s not Hugh Jackman/It’s a black man.”

Watch the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards on Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, live on CBS – and catch up on all the news and style from the show on PEOPLE.com!

[From People]

Taylor already gave a statement to the Associated Press/People Magazine: “I started freaking out and jumping up and down. I honestly never would have predicted this, eight nominations – I’m ecstatic, and blown away and so, so thankful. To be recognized by the Grammys is the ultimate honor, and all I know is that when I write about this in my journal tonight it will be in all capital letters and underlined four times, and there will be lots of exclamation points in this entry because I never imagined I’d get to write this kind of journal entry. The thought of that absolutely is something that you daydream about. I’m just gonna call a bunch of people and tell them that I love them.”

Aw… cute. I’m let you finish! I know some people are going to piss all over this girl no matter what she does – and seriously, whenever something good happens for her, someone tries to steal her thunder – but I love her. I want her to do well. And I want Beyonce to have to sit in the Grammy audience and watch Taylor “stand up for art” and win it all.

Beyonce performing in Dublin, Ireland on November 22, 2009. Taylor Swift in London on November 23, 2009. Credit: WENN

Miley Cyrus’ desperate attempts at making sure no one dares see her as sweet young Hannah Montana anymore have been successful! Miley has been voted the number one worst celebrity influence by tweens and teens on AOL’s Just So You Know website. Congrats! No one has put more effort into successfully alienating their fan base and making sure they gyrate their hips into eventual irrelevance and bankruptcy. Your manager must be thrilled.

Who’d Miley beat out? Britney Spears and Kanye West, who came in second and third. That’s right, Kanye’s rushing the stage and stealing the spotlight from Taylor Swift (amongst all his other selfish and rude shenanigans) still doesn’t make him as bad an influence as Miley. So let that be a warning to you, 9 to 15-year-olds: it is more okay to blog in rage caps and get drunk off your ass at awards shows than it is to kinda-sorta-maybe pole dance. Frankly your parents would probably prefer you do neither, but if you’ve got to do one or the other, follow Kanye’s lead before Miley’s.

Miley Cyrus, one of Disney’s hottest stars of the past three years with hit records and hit films, has been voted the worst celebrity influence of 2009 by the very people who made her a star, tweens and teens, according to an online poll on Wednesday. Cyrus, 16, took 42 percent of votes in the poll for AOL’s JSYK.com (Just So You Know) website aimed at 9-15 year-olds, pushing Britney Spears and rapper Kanye West into second and third places, respectively, in a section on worst celebrity influences of the year.

No reasons were given for the poor showing of the singer-actress and the popular star of Disney Channel’s “Hannah Montana” television series. But the ranking follows a year which has seen Cyrus controversially dating a 20 year-old model, making “slant eyes” in an informal snapshot criticized as mocking Asians, and being accused of pole-dancing on a teen awards show.

Cyrus also came in No. 4 in the category of favorite female artist, behind 19-year-old country sensation Taylor Swift, “I Kissed a Girl” singer Katy Perry and R&B star Beyonce. The poll attracted almost 50,000 votes. “I think Miley is in an interesting space where she is trying to graduate from being ‘Hannah Montana’ and a Disney channel celebrity and coming into her own and having a career beyond Disney,” said Stephanie Cohen, editor of JSYK.com.

“I think her fans still want her to be the sweet Hannah Montana and she is trying to age up…Parents are definitely resisting it,” Cohen told Reuters.

[From Reuters]

All kids and teenagers want to be older than they are. It’s that constant desire to grow up too fast. And it’s the parent’s responsibility to do everything they can to slow it down. But Miley’s parents were chomping at the bit to help their little girl wear skimpy outfits and take inappropriate webcam photos. Because it gets her more attention, and attention equals dollars. Congrats, Cyruses!

The editor of JSYK goes on to talk about how well Taylor Swift has done this year, and she chalks it up to a few important things: first, Taylor is talented. And pretty, though she doesn’t mention that. But secondly, Taylor’s gotten most of her attention for coming across as genuinely kind, smart, well-raised with excellent manners, and she writes songs kids and teens relate to. I’m not really a fan of her type of music, but I’m going to force myself to be. I love that Taylor proves you can be rich and famous for being good instead of being naughty. And if I were a betting girl, I’d bet Taylor will be much richer and more famous than Miley in ten years’ time.

And to think… she probably doesn’t even know how to pole dance.

Here’s Miley performing in concert at the United Center in Chicago on Tuesday. I have no idea why even teenagers would find this inappropriate. Images thanks to WENN.com .