Kanye West, now legally known as Ye, has once again stirred conversation online—this time claiming that his controversial past has cost him the chance to perform on one of music’s biggest stages: the Super Bowl halftime show.
In a recent post shared on X (formerly Twitter), the rapper attributed his absence from the coveted performance lineup to three specific moments in his career that he believes have led to him being “banned” from the NFL spotlight.
“I never was allowed to do the Super Bowl because of three moments,” West wrote. “George Bush don’t care about Black people. The Taylor Swift movement moment. Wearing a MAGA hat.”
The Longstanding Rift With Taylor Swift
Among the moments he listed, West’s infamous feud with Taylor Swift continues to stand out as a pivotal turning point in his public persona. The drama between the two artists began in 2009, when West interrupted Swift’s acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards, declaring that Beyoncé had the more deserving video.
While the moment became instantly iconic—and polarizing—it was only the beginning of a saga that has spanned more than a decade.
In 2016, the release of West’s track “Famous” reignited tensions after he claimed responsibility for Swift’s fame and included controversial lyrics referencing her. Swift has publicly denied ever approving the line, despite West’s claims to the contrary.
Their strained relationship has frequently resurfaced in headlines and remains one of the most well-known celebrity feuds in pop culture history.
Beyond the Swift controversy, West pointed to two additional incidents as reasons behind his Super Bowl snub: his on-air criticism of President George W. Bush during a Hurricane Katrina fundraiser in 2005, and his vocal support of Donald Trump years later—including wearing the infamous red “MAGA” hat.
Though West insists his actions were meant to provoke thought and represent his independent mindset, he also admitted in his post that they likely alienated major event organizers.
He framed his past behavior as misunderstood and “ahead of his time,” suggesting that his outspoken nature has unfairly labeled him as too controversial for events like the Super Bowl.
