For once, Kanye West and I agree on something. This morning he told Ryan Seacrest that he was “completely devastated,” after hearing about the alleged domestic assault between singers Rihanna and Chris Brown. From the reports coming in, Rihanna’s injuries were shockingly severe, and I’m trying to do everything I can not to imagine what must have gone down between the two. Kanye was actually quite restrained in his comments, but it’s clear he’s incredibly upset.
Kanye West says he is shocked by the news that Chris Brown allegedly assaulted girlfriend Rihanna. “I was completely devastated by the concept of what I heard,” the rapper said Tuesday on Ryan Seacrest’s KIIS-FM radio show. West – who saw them Saturday at Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party in L.A. — said he learned the sad details shortly before he performed “American Boy” with Estelle on Sunday’s Grammys.
“I was completely devastated during the performance,” West said. He said he knows Rihanna better than Brown, 19, as he went on tour with the 20-year-old singer.
“Rihanna is so important to our culture … to pop music,” said West. “I feel like she is the most important artist in music and has the most potential. Her taste level and her age … she has the potential to be the greatest artist of all time… In that sense, I feel like that’s my baby sis,” he said of Rihanna. “I would do any and everything to help her in any situation.
Although West didn’t want to get into specifics, he said, “All I want to say is, it’s so devastating. Just as a person, I don’t care how famous she is or even if she just worked at McDonald’s … [abuse] should never happen. It should never come to that place.”
[From Us Magazine]
As Helen noted this morning, TMZ has reported that Rihanna’s injuries included major contusions on both sides her face, along with a bloody nose and a split lip. What’s especially disturbing are their reports of bit marks on Rihanna’s arms and fingers.
I wonder if Rihanna will make a statement at some point. I hope it helps to hear how much support she has. Kanye is normally the type to go off in an unrestrained fashion, and I’m a little surprised that he chose to be restrained in this case. But this is obviously an incredibly sensitive topic and very little information has been released at this point, so it makes sense for him to be careful in his phrasing. But he’s right, regardless of who you are or what you do, no one deserves to ever go through anything like this.
Here’s Rihanna and Kanye West at Paris Fashion Week February of last year. Images thanks to WENN.
what the hell does “by the concept of what I heard” mean? What? He is an idiot.
I second that
Hes an idiot
The first time I read this I saw, “poop music.” And I concurred.
Funny, I totally understood what he meant by “the concept of what I heard” and I thought he used it well. To me he phrased it that way because (especially since he knows the ppl and was just with them hours b4 this happened) it’s hard to conceptualize something that shocking and horrible happening to Rihana or to think about Chris Brown having done it. I work with someone who still doesn’t believe it and suggested somebody else could have beat Ri up and Ri was just confused when she saw CB running away (so dumb! I think Ri would know who was beating her a$$! And even if that were the case, why would Chris, a man, run away when someone else was attacking his gfriend?) For some ppl the “concept” of CB doing this is unthinkable.
I agree with Prissa. The thought that Chris Brown actually did this is hard to swallow. He seemed like such a nice guy, but I guess you never know with abusers.
Prissa I completely agree.
Why call somebody else an idiot because you didn’t understand what they said? Doesn’t that make you the idiot? 😛
As much as I feel for Rihanna right now – and I’m sure Kanye does as well — why does he have to make a comment about everything?!
I also agree with Prissa. I think that Kanye’s statement had to be carefully worded because with out any statements from anyone or and convictions, its best not to be too specific. I think he had to make a statement about it because as he said, he regarded Ri as a sister. Also, I think any support that she can get is very important. Since people know them both, I think that maybe she might feel ashamed and that she would be out cast for outing one of music’s “Nice guys” as a potential abuser.
The concept of what he heard means he was rattled but he hasn’t heard both sides yet.
That makes a certain degree of sense as he’s making a public statement where he doesn’t want to make a judgement too early when all the info isn’t in yet.
I don’t think it’s idiotic to want to be informed before throwing down any condemnation. It’s what the law’s all about after all.
i HATE kanye…but this was very well spoken. as someone who has anger outbursts and an ego the size of texan, kanye has still never struck me as a particularly violent person and does a good job not getting clumped in with the r&b/hip hop thugs.
despite his ego, I love Kanye
It’s assault with a deadly weapon charges thus far, people.
I feel bad for Rihanna. She did the right thing. No women should put up with abuse. If it’s as serious as it sounds then, Chris Brown needs serious help. Too bad for him, because he seemed pretty talented, especially at dancing. Even if his career ends tomorrow, he’s still had made enough money to live comfortably the rest of his life. Better than most people in this country.
I understood the comment, but agree with kiki and 99… he’s an idiot.
This situation is sad but for kanye to say:
“Rihanna is so important to our culture … to pop music,” said West. “I feel like she is the most important artist in music and has the most potential. Her taste level and her age … she has the potential to be the greatest artist of all time…
-nope, sorry, I stopped reading there.
‘the potential to be the greatest artist of all time’ – daftest bloody thing I’ve heard in a long time.
“All I want to say is, it’s so devastating. Just as a person, I don’t care how famous she is or even if she just worked at McDonald’s … [abuse] should never happen. It should never come to that place.”
I BET THE PEOPLE HE HAS GONE OFF ON FEEL THE SAME WAY,
@ Wonder Woman: So did I. “Rihanna:… greatest artist …” just went too far. She’s barely an artist.
In my mind I see Kanye answering like this: Just heard the news and I be so devastated. Chris didn’t need to keep his pimp hand strong, he shoulda waited. Of course compared to ME, these two are overrated. Watchu gonna tell your girl with two black eyes in da store? Nuttin dat you ain’t told the bitch two times before. Course you know the man will try to keep my boy Chris down,while Me and Rihanna will be sneakin round de town. Well this is my chance and I think I got it made, She ain’t gonna be hangin with me les she’s sportin shades. Alright my peeps, as you can plainly see, I always hated that she’s settled for Chris when she coulda been with me. TA DAH!! (don’t be hatin yo, that’s Kanye talking not me).
katyalia:
She is a pop star, all her music makes no sense or is a rip off of other musicans. S.O.S Rip off, take a bow – rip off of madonnas take a bow in the 90’s. dont stop the music, micheal jackson, live your life – rip off of Numa Numa. the main origional song that has her name on it is Umbrella, another dumb song.
I know she got beat by her boyfriend and I am suppose to b sympathetic but after reading the way he treats him it was only a matter of time before he snapped, and when I mean snapped I mean dump her not beat the shit out of her. But I have heard that she gave him herpes, well… if my bf gave me herpes I would beat his ass too so if thats true i can understand the reason he lost his mind and went ape shit on rihanna
kevin, go take a nap
God wonder woman, you’re an idiot. She had a cold sore a few weeks ago, which some other idiots cannot tell apart from a different type of herpes, so that’s where the rumour started, the rumour you’re still using as a pathetic excuse to hit a mwoman, wonder woman, I don’t think so.
Wow. I’m getting sick of the anti-Rihanna haters. STFU and sit down!!
There is NO proof of the STD rumor. It REEKS of Chris Brown apologists trying to get their boy off the hook.
Anyway, I think Kanye made a good statement. The right amount of restraint. I wish Rihanna the best.
As for Chris, don’t drop the soap! You reap what you sow!
Here Kanye Ego West goes bringing himself into the situation:
“Rihanna is so important to our culture … to pop music,” said West. “I feel like she is the most important artist in music and has the most potential. Her taste level and her age … she has the potential to be the greatest artist of all time… In that sense, I feel like that’s my baby sis”
In him saying that I believe its because he thinks that he too is “the most important artist in music and has the most potential. His taste level and his age … he has the potential to be the greatest artist of all time…
I wish he would realize that he doesn’t have any talent.
Why does giving someone herpes equal getting beat up? That makes no logical sense.
the greatest artist of all time? what fucking load of crap. if he thinks what she is doing musically and artistically is somehow revolutionary or innovative then i have no respect for his taste at all.
her songs are cute and catchy but nothing that is blowing my mind. she’s not doing anything new. how much of her songs does she actually write anyway?
kanye is so dumb!
i hope she gets better and does not go back to that chris brown guy.
Kevin you’re an idiot.
Despite how we might feel about Kanye’s ego, the point is, he made a good statement in support of someone he cares about. Sheesh! It’s like humanity is so f’d up now we can’t be nice, we always have to look for the negative, bad news is what we crave. Goodness me, is it so hard to agree that yes it was devastating (which is what the crux of his statement was about)? He was asked about his thoughts on the matter and for once he didn’t talk about himself. FFS.
CosVis–is he suppose to get an award for not talking about himself for once?
and he DID find a way to reference himself and all his greatness. he said she could be the greatest artist of all time and IN THAT respect she is like his little sister.
Good points Wonder Woman. (I’d acutally forgotten about Madonna’s ‘take a bow’!) She’s a biter, but it doesn’t give CB the right to bite her. Yeah lame, i know. Anyhoo, i agree KW went too far with the great artist stuff but I still feel for Ri. I hope she’s ok.
Oh and Kevin – that was REALLY LAME!
So he may have overstated some things about Rihanna and her career but I don’t understand why people are saying and asking why he commented on it.
The woman went on tour with him in the past and my guess is that they do indeed have a friendship. Now it’d be odd and pointless is someone such as Madonna or Britney Spears to comment on it seeing as the two don’t really have any connection at all.
Okay,he said she has the potential to be the greatest artist of all time. And so ‘in that sense,she is like a baby sis to me’.
HAH! Did anyone catch that? He still found a way to stroke his own ego and remind us how flippin’ great he is!!!! ‘in that sense’…meaning,he sees her as a baby sis,a baby prodige…
hilarious! That guy is too much;i dont even know any of his music,and her umbrella song is just annoying as he*l…but hey,to each his own. he’s all in your face with himself;turns me off from wanting to actually listen to his stuff. oh except i did see a you tube vid of him in NYC-what was that poetry jam? with badu,hill,alicia keys,etc. he was okay,but surrounded by such amazing talent.
Why does ANYONE have to make a ‘statement’ on this? The case is still under investigation and the only ‘statements’ that have any bearing on the situation are from the people directly involved. Yes, it’s horrible but it seems a little classless for people (friends or not) to make these long winded statements about it. If asked, express your sadness/shock and then let it be, don’t state “all I want to say is” and then make multiple points. I agree with the poster who said that the media perpetrates bad news and people seem to jump on it but on the other side of the same coin, celebrities seem to thrive on sensationalism to get their own name in the media and this seems like a bad case of that. That’s my .02 cents.
so sad cuz she will probably end up taking him back
I don’t care what she did, there is absolutely no excuse for anyone to treat someone in this manner. We learn as kids not to hit, to deal with anger in more constructive ways. When someone behaves like this, it’s not a one-time thing. He’s an abuser. And Kayne is just trying to get attention by making this incident about him, which it is not.
she needs to press charges for herself and for all the watching public so people (and especially kids) see her stand up for herself.
if she doesn’t care about herself, nobody else will
he hit her with his fist. he bit her to scar her.
ya’ll have MAD jokes on Kanye and I kinda feel ya’ll. especially u Kevin, but I like Kanye no matter what!!! God bless and please no celeb beat down drama for the rest of the month dear Lord!
If Kanye wants to make a statement since she’s “like a sister” to him, he should make it in private — to HER, not the public. That’s the point people are trying to make about his ego. If this were about his genuine concern for Rihanna, he would have said it privately, not held a freaking press conference over it.
…greatest artist of all time– IN THAT LIGHT she’s my sister?
Like, only greatness is him or anyone with whom he will remotely associate….
wow he’s so obliviously inflated….
Everybody has a limit of how much sh*t they can take before they lose their cool.
Just because you’re female doesn’t mean you can run your mouth because the whole world will be on your side if the bas*ard raises his hands to you.
I love both Chris and Rihanna – i think that they are great.
Don’t just go “Oh what an A-Hole, he hit her” There are ALWAYS two sides to a story and while he may have hit her, he may have felt provoked, threatend, hurt… etc
No, it doesn’t make it right, but we are all human. I have been on the giving and receiving side of abusive relationships and when i was receiving the abuse, i was the little victim (who ran my mouth and said whatever i wanted because i knew people would look down on him if he hit me) and when i actually felt the hurt, anger, frustration that ran through my veins before i punched my ex husband – i can understand this scenario.
I don’t think either is bad – i think that maybe they are just not good together.
If you can’t control your temper walk away, there is NO excuse for hitting another person, male or female, no matter what ‘ran through your veins’ at the time.
Things can have causes or reasons attributed to them- but stil the question of rightness always comes up.
Someone can interpret anythng they want as a reason; you can pull anything to your defense if you think it is possible to defend something.
But just because you can attribute a ’cause’ or trigger or provocation- does that make it RIGHT?
Alot of people can have someone ‘run their mouth off’ to them, but not hit the person for doing it.
It’s not necessary to deal with the hurt, anger, fear or whatever is “CAUSED”- because alot of causes are in fact illegitimate.
…not necessary to deal with it by physically injuring another person, I mean…
AND LOL
the abuser is the one to define hat ‘running the mouth” is, anyway.
To someone insecure and abusive, a simple statement of opinion, or basic truth or fact, or sometimes even nothing at all can be enough ‘running’ to make them hit you.
I remember when my mom asked who ate the last slice of pizza, and my dad went into a complete tirade and terrorized and almost beat her for saying that…. she “ran her motuh” by asking a simple question.
How long have Rihanna & Chris been together?
No meme, please find the part in my statement where I asked you to award him for not directly talking about himself. Pardon me for considering the matter of Rihanna’s alleged attack a little bit more important than what he may or may not have said about his talent. I still think you and others are caught up on him and whether or not he or Rihanna have musical ability (which I imagine is what he wants). It’s not so hard to ignore that part is it? Last time I checked, this was about her alleged attack.
Kanye is not the issue here folks…he’s all about getting attention. Has anyone seen the photos being submitted??? I was recently sent two exact photos of Rhiana, one with the alleged bruisies and one without. How confusing it was to see the same phone, same clothing, shades and same pose, but with bruises.
I’m just waiting for the rest of the story to come out. The part that CB has been too nice to talk about for a VERY long time: Ri is a hitter and a screamer. She’s been abusing him constantly since they became involved. It is so sad how males will allow a female to beat on them so long until they just blow up and harm the woman. He should have pressed charges on her butt a long time ago! There are enough witnesses to corroborate her wild nutty behavior. Now look what’s happened…people think this is all on him. The sad thing is that he still probably won’t let the truth be known about crazy Ri.
Jesus, it’s terrifying how many people are making excuses for a guy beating a girl. Are you women raised to do that? “Oh yeah, he hit me but I pushed him to his limit. I gave him back-sass. I had an opinion.”
THERE IS NO EXCUSE.
Well, you have my permission to continue dating those violent guys, because you keep them away from the rest of us.
Do people not see that he is trying to get his fans behind Team Rihanna at this point? He’s selfish and all the other words any of the posters will compare him to BUT he is bringing his fans over to her side. And let us all admit it: Kanye has more fans that Rihanna at this point. It’s smart. Brown needs to see that what he did was wrong and if other celebrities have to get behind the woman then so be it. Brown deserves to be paired up in a cell with a man named Bubba.