Kanye West to Taylor Swift: "I'm Sorry"

(AP)  Kanye West used Jay Leno's prime-time television debut Monday to offer another apology for ruining Taylor Swift's night at the MTV Video Music Awards and to say he's going to take some time off for reflection.

Kanye Apologizes -- Again

West said he knew he was wrong the moment he handed the microphone back to Swift, when he was bathed in boos. He had interrupted Swift on Sunday night as she accepted a best female video award for "You Belong With Me," arguing that Beyonce's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" was more deserving.

Photos: Scenes from the VMA Show

"It was rude, period," West said. He posted a second apology to Swift on his blog on Monday, and told Leno he wanted to apologize to the country music star in person.

Photos: The VVMA Red Carpet

West took a long pause when Leno asked what his mother would have said about the incident. West was very close to his mother, Donda, who died in November 2007. He said yes when Leno asked whether his mother would have given him a lecture.

"So many celebrities, they never take the time off," he said. "I've never taken the time off to really -- you know, just music after music and tour after tour. I'm just ashamed that my hurt caused someone else's hurt. My dream of what awards shows are supposed to be, 'cause, and I don't try to justify it because I was just in the wrong. That's period. But I need to, after this, take some time off and just analyze how I'm going to make it through the rest of this life, how I'm going to improve."

He had already been set to perform on Leno's first prime-time show on NBC, but asked for time to talk with the controversy swirling. It may have been a stroke of luck for Leno, whose daily prime-time comedy show already was the most buzzed-about fall debut. With West, it's likely to draw even more curious viewers.

It was reminiscent of when Hugh Grant appeared on the "Tonight" show with Leno in 1995 to make amends after being arrested with a prostitute - only this time there weren't many laughs. The Grant appearance was a springboard for Leno to eclipse David Letterman in the ratings.

Leno was quick to reference the West incident with one of his first monologue jokes Monday, saying President Barack Obama had invited West and the 19-year-old Swift for a "root beer summit."

West has gotten in trouble before with ill-timed comments, raising scenes after losing awards himself at the VMAs, the Grammys and the American Music Awards. In 2005, West said during a telethon to raise money for victims after Hurricane Katrina that President George W. Bush "doesn't care about black people."

MTV wasn't complaining on Monday. Televised on MTV, MTV2 and VH1 simultaneously on Sunday, the awards show was seen by 11 million people, according to Nielsen Media Research. That's up 21 percent over last year and was the most-watched Video Music Awards since 2002.

A corporate partner of MTV jumped to take advantage of it. Comedy Central, like MTV owned by Viacom Inc., planned to rerun four times in a row on Tuesday a "South Park" episode that poked fun at West's ego.

West spoke on Leno's show before performing with Jay-Z and Rihanna on Jay-Z's song "Run This Town."

Some of West's fans who were waiting to see the performance on Leno's show condemned the rapper.

"I thought that was very disrespectful," said Oscar Velasquez, 21, of Valley Village, California. "He's a great musician, but as a person, he's not a role model or anything. And I think that not only are his fans disappointed but his mom would be disappointed. I don't think she raised him like that, to be like that. I think he needs to remember that."

Velasquez said he'd remained a fan of West's after previous awards show blowups, but, "I'm getting kind of tired of it. There comes to a point where you know what? That's how you are, but you can change. And he needs to change."

Errimis Pullett, 27, of San Diego, said he planned to boo West.

He said he'd dismissed West's previous award show tantrums by telling himself, "'Oh, he's kind of misunderstood. He's a little egotistical.' But last night, just jumping in front of Taylor Swift and stealing her moment, that was ridiculous. I can't support or defend that. I'm a huge fan, bought all his CDs. ... I'm glad Beyonce stepped in and let her finish her speech up."

This time, Pullett said, "he looked more like a bully."

[PostalOneToo]

Taking time off for "reflection"? Does that mean rehab? Too little, too late. Go away.

[inmom63]

Normally these comments contain a few "for" and a few "against". I'm happy to see all the comments here recognize what an egotistical maniac West is. Let's hope it reflects in the sale of his music. That's probably the only thing he would understand. The minute I heard about his bad behavior (again), I wondered if he ever thought how his Mother would regard it! I have a feeling she would have been so embarassed and ashamed. Get a life Kanye and don't let that life be all about you!

[jclark7613]

**** native_warrior_USMC

You are obviously a racist and a idiot. Everything is not about race. You must not know of Kanye West.... This is typical him to people he disagree with...he just a big baby.

[Markie33tx]

What upsets me about this issue also is that the wonderful tribute to MJ w/Janet's performance seems to have been forgotten due to this idiot. I was so upset, I removed all of his music that I had. I hope Taylor Swift will be able to get past this. She is wonderful and Beyonce showed such class.

[kenhamlett]

West should think about taking a very long time off. It is certain I won't be forgetting him soon. While I do suspect it was preplanned to draw attention to himself and Beyonce, if Swift was not a part of this little stunt (and I doubt she knew of it in advance) it was about as sleazy as I have seen in quite a while.
This loser only has a big mouth with no brains to back it up. There are too may good performers out there to ever need to buy a ticket to see him again. I wonder if he can flip burgers for his new career.

[mandylou4u]

This is only about race to one person and that's the person who was rude enough to take a mic away from someone accepting an award. No one has ever taken the mic from him. And let's not forget who gave Taylor Swift the mic back! Beyonce is a class act for her behavior. More people in this world should be like her. She knows she will have awards in the future, Mr. West may not get anymore after this.

[anitaymoore]

He's so sorry about what he did....HE says. Yet, I find it interesting that he hasn't actually spoken to Taylor Swift yet, and in fact hasn't even tried to call her. No face to face apology at all. It's easy to try to put a false front on when on Leno (which BTW...no one bought), and it's easy to throw a half-a**ed apology up on a blog. None of these apologies are a face-to-face contrite apology for what he's done...they are all avoidance techniques to try to pull his butt out of the fire, and it's not working this time.

He has about as much credibility at this point as Madoff does...and that's saying something. Even his discussion with Leno last night was full of excuses and people are sick of it. How many of us deal daily with extreme stress, extreme grief, extreme pain...and don't act out like he continues to do? I have no pity for him. I'm totally done with that sorry excuse for a human being.

[mandylou4u]

And since when did "real" talent mean copying other songs and puting some of your own words in it? That's not talent, that's copying a beat instead of making your own. I give it to alot of rappers for making their own beats and tracks, but I think at this point, Taylor Swift has written more of her own songs and beats than Mr. West will ever write and she's only a teenager. Bad manners, very bad. He caught a karma bug once, he should be watching out in the future...

[eastcoastman]

kanye west dont care of his family name acting like a complete racist..he brough shame upon his mother and fathers name!

[stinger1z]

Kanye realized the spotlight wasn't on him for a few seconds and had to get it back. What a pompous ass. The only person who showed class was Beyonce for letting her get back on stage to finish her speech. Kanye, other people are talented too, they are going to get recognized. You're not the first entertainer to come into music, and won't be the last. Stop with the "all about me" attitude. Taylor Swift is young and talented far beyond her age, and it was good to see her rewarded for it. So you had to go ruin it, way to go crush her happiness.