Billboard apologizes to Taylor Swift for showing nude waxwork from Kanye West's video in tribute

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Billboard has got Swifties shaking it off in anger after featuring a controversial clip in a tribute video for Taylor Swift.

 

The clip, taken from Kanye West’s 2016 music video for Famous, showed a naked wax figure of Swift—a depiction she never authorized. The move left fans outraged, calling it disrespectful, and forced Billboard to make a quick apology.

 

The music publication's video was part of its celebration of Swift's recognition as the second-greatest pop star of the 21st century. However, the choice to include a clip from West’s infamous video didn’t sit well with Swift's fanbase. The Famous music video, notorious for depicting multiple celebrities in a controversial context, has long been a sore point, especially for Swift, given her rocky history with West. The feud between the two artists dates back to the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, when West interrupted Swift’s acceptance speech, and the release of Famous added more fuel to that ongoing fire.

 

 

Fans took to social media to voice their discontent, labeling Billboard's inclusion of the clip as “nasty” and “problematic.”  Swifties, known for their vocal support, quickly rallied to defend their idol, causing hashtags like  #BillboardIsOverParty and #BillboardApologizeToTaylor to trend.

 

 

In the face of mounting backlash, Billboard moved quickly to rectify the situation. The magazine removed the offensive segment from the video montage and replaced it with an edited version. It also issued a formal apology, stating, "We are deeply sorry to Taylor Swift and all of our readers and viewers that in a video celebrating Swift’s achievements, we included a clip that falsely depicted her." It went on to express regret for the harm caused and assured that the clip had been removed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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• https://time.com/7198891/taylor-swift-billboard-video-kanye-west-backlash-apology/ 
• https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/11/28/taylor-swift-billboard-apology-video-kanye-west/76644298007/ 

 

 

Image: Starstock | Dreamstime.com