MTV boss details behind-the-scenes mayhem after Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift’s 2009 VMA speech

One of the world's biggest stars, other than Taylor, was in tears

Kanye West Taylor Swift

by Owen Tonks |
Published on

It’s gone down in history as one of the most famous Kanye West moments ever - in 2009 the rapper stormed the stage at the VMAs as Taylor Swift was giving an acceptance speech having won the Best Female Video award for her song You Belong With Me.

We’ve all seen how a shocked Taylor looked on as Kanye grabbed the microphone, saying “I’mma let you finish”, and declared that Beyonce should have been given the trophy for her Single Ladies video.

But we’ve now been given an insight into the fallout backstage after former MTV boss Van Toffler revealed what he saw behind the scenes after the incident.

He told The Hollywood Reporter: “When Kanye walked up on-stage with Taylor that year, it turned out that Taylor had to go on-stage to do her song five minutes later.

“I ran out of the truck to see that everything was alright, and Taylor and her mom were crying hysterically. I’m not always wonderful with emotions. I didn’t know what to say.

“Then I went backstage, and Beyonce was crying, too.”

Kanye West Taylor Swift

That evening saw Kanye leap onto the stage as Taylor was giving her acceptance speech for him to grab the microphone from her hands.

He told the shocked audience: “Yo, Taylor, I’m really happy for you and I’mma let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time.”

Kanye days later made a tearful appearance on The Jay Leno Show and apologised for his behaviour, saying: “It was rude, period. I don’t try to justify it, ‘cause I was in the wrong.”

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