Billboard magazine has issued a formal apology to Taylor Swift following a controversial attempt to honor her achievements.
As part of their project to name the greatest pop stars of the 21st century, Billboard ranked the 34-year-old singer-songwriter at No. 2.
While the accolade was intended to celebrate Swift’s monumental impact on pop culture and music, a video accompanying the announcement caused significant backlash due to its content.
In the celebratory video, Billboard included a clip from Kanye West’s music video for the song “Famous.” The clip featured a wax figure of a nude Taylor Swift and referenced the controversial lyric, “I made that [expletive] famous.”
This particular lyric and the imagery were at the heart of a 2016 feud between Swift, West, and his then-wife Kim Kardashian. Swift denied giving West permission to use the lyric, which he claimed she approved.
Kardashian later released a video suggesting Swift had approved the line, but the situation remained murky until additional footage surfaced in 2020, lending credence to Swift’s version of events.
The inclusion of the “Famous” clip struck a nerve with Swift’s fans, reigniting memories of the contentious episode and the fallout that followed.
Fans, known for their fierce loyalty to Swift, quickly took to social media to criticize Billboard for what they viewed as a disrespectful misstep in an otherwise celebratory piece.
The use of the clip overshadowed the magazine’s intention of recognizing Swift’s incredible contributions to the music industry.
In response to the backlash, Billboard removed the controversial video and issued a public apology. The magazine acknowledged the error and its impact on Swift and her fans.
“We are deeply sorry to Taylor Swift and all of our readers and viewers that in a video celebrating Swift’s achievements, we included a clip that falsely depicted her,” Billboard stated.
The apology emphasized that the clip did not align with the intended tone of the celebration, and the publication expressed regret for any harm caused.
The 2016 feud between Swift and West had already left a lasting mark on popular culture, with the “Famous” lyric and its fallout becoming emblematic of the complex relationships between public figures and the media.
The resurfacing of the controversy in Billboard’s video served as a reminder of how cultural narratives can linger, even years later, when not handled with care.
This incident underscores the importance of thoughtful editorial decisions, particularly when celebrating artists who have faced public controversies.
