John Legend has expressed his sadness over the current state of former friend and collaborator Kanye West, now known as Ye. The British-American singer spoke candidly in an interview with The Times, recalling the early 2000s when West was a passionate and visionary figure in the music industry. At the time, West had signed Legend to his Good Music label and helped produce his debut album Get Lifted. Legend remembered those early years as full of creativity and hope, adding that it’s “sad, sometimes shocking, to see where he is now”.
++ Pope Leo XIV warns of AI’s threat to human dignity and social justice
In recent years, West has sparked controversy due to erratic behaviour and inflammatory social media posts, including antisemitic remarks. Earlier this year, there were public calls for Elon Musk to remove him from X (formerly Twitter) due to a series of offensive tweets. West has also stirred backlash through interviews and public appearances, including a notorious 2018 comment on slavery and his appearance at the 2024 Grammys with his wife, Bianca Censori, wearing a transparent dress.
Reflecting on their shared rise to fame, Legend detailed how West’s success with Jay-Z’s The Blueprint opened doors for both of them. Despite being initially rejected by several record labels, Legend eventually gained recognition as West’s protégé. He described how The College Dropout’s success made the industry take notice of them both, with many of the same labels suddenly expressing renewed interest in his music.
++ US infant health research funding halted amid wider government cuts
However, Legend admitted that their relationship deteriorated, particularly following West’s 2020 bid for public office. Speaking to The Axe Files podcast in 2022, Legend shared that he could no longer support West’s political ambitions and that it became hard to maintain their friendship. He concluded in his Times interview: “I didn’t see a hint of what we’re seeing now – his obsessions with antisemitism and anti-blackness – and it is sad to see his devolution.”
