Bro, what just happened? Kanye West decided to give a bizarre, rambling (and very long!) speech instead of a performance while accepting the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2015 VMAs in L.A. on Sunday, Aug. 30.
The rapper, 38, went through a slew of topics, including his infamous Taylor Swift “I’m gonna let you finish, but…” VMAs 2009 moment, how he’s represented in the media, and, oh, his plans to run for president in 2020.
West’s wacko speech received both cheers and boos from the packed audience. His very pregnant wife, Kim Kardashian, grinned and clapped alongside Kourtney Kardashian and Kris Jenner. Swift, meanwhile, towered comically over the expectantly reality star and placed her arm around her in delightfully awkward fashion.
The “Bound 2” entertainer also received support from Jaden Smith, who attended his and Kardashian’s 2014 Florence, Italy nuptials. “Kanye For President,” Smith tweeted while inside the Microsoft Theater. Pal Justin Timberlake even gave the star a shout-out after West called him out for crying when he didn’t win Album of the Year for FutureSex/LoveSounds at the 2007 Grammy Awards.
“Kanye is so cute, y’all,” Timberlake, 34, tweeted Sunday night. “Jokes, you guys… Jokes. #chill.”
For more celebrity reactions, check out the GIFs above!
Kanye For President.
— Jaden Smith (@officialjaden) August 31, 2015
Kanye is so cute, y’all.
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) August 31, 2015
Jokes, you guys… Jokes. #chill
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) August 31, 2015
Kanye West taught me to be fearless
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) August 31, 2015
All right. Time to get some sleep. I intend to count possible Kanye West running mates.
— Linda Holmes (@nprmonkeysee) August 31, 2015
.@kanyewest, let me know when you’re assembling your policy team.
— deray mckesson (@deray) August 31, 2015
why does Kanye West have to pull a publicity stunt at every single award show he attends?
— Deanna Farley (@DeannaFarley_) August 31, 2015
“In retrospect, the Kanye West / Taylor Swift ticket seemed inevitable.” – NPR in January 2021
— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) August 31, 2015
A great race would be Kanye West versus Donald Trump for President…
— Larry King (@kingsthings) August 31, 2015
Only Jayden Smith could understand that Kanye West award speech
— Kenar (@Deion_Slanders) August 31, 2015
I will leave this country if Kanye west becomes president ????
— Tommy Armstrong Jr. (@Tommy_Gun4) August 31, 2015
Kanye West is going off on mtv literally while on an mtv award show lmao what a damn legend
— PastaBoy (@RyanAbe) August 31, 2015
Real talk: Kanye West has never been inside a grocery store.
— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) August 31, 2015
was he serious though please be serious @kanyewest
— tilly TOMORROW (@17blackcoffee) August 31, 2015
I guess I’m as conflicted about Kanye West as anyone else and that’s the best I can hope for.
— Shawn Murray (@HighbrowShawn) August 31, 2015
If Kanye West can run for president, why are you afraid of asking her out?
— TinyMarkTwain (@TinyMarkTwain) August 31, 2015
Anyone else think it’s hilarious that @taylorswift13 was presenting @kanyewest with the vanguard award? Lol
— A??y (@allydawnnn1) August 31, 2015
I’ve never heard Kanye West’s music, but I love him
— Sabrina Perkins (@sabrinainawe) August 31, 2015
Kanye West “time for America to be dope again”
— Steven Kwasny (@stevekwasny) August 31, 2015
Kanye West is a clown.
— Nancy (@Nancy_Colorado) August 31, 2015
