Kanye West appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night after the rapper went off on the host via Twitter recently following a sketch that he took offense to. West’s appearance was sometimes awkward, sometimes tense, often enlightening and really good TV.
The first item they straightened out was that what happened was not a publicity stunt with West stating that he’s never done a publicity stunt in his life and that he doesn’t operate in that way. Kimmel then addressed the confrontational phone call that he received from West and the rapper explained that he was especially angered by the skit because the two had met on previous occasions, adding that Kimmel kind of became a target for all of his rage that he felt towards the tabloids and media in general.
Jimmy opened up and stated that when celebrities like these two get together they often complain about how their lives are like a zoo and that they often feel mistreated by the paparazzi. Kimmel apologized if his skit, which he explained was mostly done because hearing kids curse is funny to him, was offensive to West and hurt him. In the same tone, Kimmel did inform West that he felt that his actions, epic rants – grandiose self descriptions, brought out much of the public’s misunderstanding about him.
“I don’t know if you know this but a lot of people think you’re a jerk. I often, in my own personal conversations, say, ‘No, I know this guy. He is not a jerk. I’m telling you he is not a jerk.'” Then Kimmel shared this great photo of West with his father from a wedding West attended of one of Kimmel’s co-workers.
West then called himself a “creative genius” and explained that there was no other way to put it and that he’s aware the way he often says things aren’t in the right way but that his intentions are always positive. West then spent a great deal of time riffing on his frustration with people trying to put him a box of being a rapper only and that he has the desire to do so much more to help the world.
“I could care less about any of these cameras in all honesty. All I care about is my family. I care about protecting my girl. I care about protecting my baby and my ideas and my dreams. That’s the reason I went so crazy.”
Kimmel asserted that the part about Kanye calling himself a genius was weird but that a lot of people believe that about themselves, and that it’s more honest to state that if that’s your belief, but it’s just odd to hear someone say it. Kanye replied, “I’m totally weird and I’m totally honest and I’m totally inappropriate sometimes. For me to say I wasn’t a genius, I would just be lying to you and myself. You’re gonna love me or you’re gonna hate me but I’m gonna be me.”
Here’s the entire interview from last night’s fascinating discussion:
