Rap Fans React: Kanye West Interrupts Taylor Swift (2009 VMAs) + Innocent | Taylor VS Kanye PT1
Today we begin the full timeline of one of the most famous rivalries in modern music history: Taylor Swift vs Kanye West.
This is Part 1 of our deep-dive series breaking down the events that started the conflict between these two artists and how it evolved over more than a decade.
The story begins at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, one of the most shocking live television moments in pop culture history.
During Taylor Swift’s very first VMA win for Best Female Video, Kanye West walked onto the stage, grabbed the microphone, and declared that Beyoncé should have won instead. At the time, Taylor Swift was only 19 years old, while Kanye West was already an established superstar in his 30s.
In this episode, the Hazed Reactions crew watches the original moment together and breaks down everything surrounding the event.
We discuss:
• What actually happened during the 2009 VMA interruption
• How the audience and the music industry reacted in real time
• The pressure Taylor Swift faced immediately afterward
• Kanye West’s interviews and public response following the incident
• Why the moment became one of the most talked-about controversies in pop culture
We also watch the incredible response from Beyoncé, who later brought Taylor Swift back on stage so she could finish her acceptance speech and have the moment she deserved.
After revisiting the VMA incident, we move forward into the next chapter of the story: Taylor Swift’s musical response. The crew listens to Innocent, a track from her 2010 album Speak Now. Speak Now is a unique album in Taylor Swift’s career because she wrote every song entirely by herself with no co-writers, responding to criticism that she relied too heavily on collaborators during the Fearless era.
As we break down the lyrics to “Innocent,” the hosts debate two different interpretations:
• Is Taylor Swift speaking directly to Kanye West about the VMA incident?
• Or is she speaking to her younger self and reflecting on growth and forgiveness?
As the song continues, subtle lines begin to reveal deeper layers, and we discuss whether Taylor might be delivering quiet lyrical jabs that only people familiar with hip-hop culture and industry dynamics would recognize.
The episode also explores the power of songwriting as a form of healing and how great artists can write about personal experiences in a way that listeners can apply to their own lives.
Finally, we talk about forgiveness and how Taylor Swift eventually chose to move forward, setting the stage for the next chapter of the story when she and Kanye West briefly became friendly again before the controversy surrounding the song Famous years later.
This episode marks the beginning of our Taylor Swift vs Kanye West timeline series, which we’ll be running alongside our breakdown of the rivalry between Kendrick Lamar and Drake.
Next episode:
We continue the Kendrick vs Drake series with the moment things truly began to fracture, including Control, Kendrick Lamar’s legendary verse, and the BET Hip Hop Awards cypher.
Then, we dive into The Monologue Song and break down Taylor Swift's Look What You Made Me Do lyrics and music video.
Stay Tuned. _______________________________________________________________________
CHAPTERS:
THE NEXT SERIES - 0:00
CORRINA MESSED UP - 02:56
THE PLAN - 04:19
A DOSE OF CONTEXT - 07:00
2009 VMA'S BEGIN - 09:51
THS IS SO 2009 - 12:05
A FORMATIVE EXPERIENCE - 13:56
CLOSING VMA DISCUSSIONS - 16:27
KANYE WEST'S RESPONSE - 21:32
BEYONCE'S RESPONSE - 24:21
TIMELINE CORRECTION - 28:33
SPEAK NOW ERA - 30:21
INNOCENT VERSE 1 - 32:30
WHO'S SHE TALKING ABOUT?! - 34:48
THE MARK OF A GREAT WRITER - 37:00
VERSE 2 - 38:52
CORRINA'S MOMENT OF REALIZATION - 40:20
WHEN MUSIC HITS... - 41:00
THAT'S THE TEA - 43:30
LET'S TAKE THE BRIDGE - 44:00
CLOSING DISCUSSIONS - 46:30
A COUNTRY JOURNEY?! - 49:32
SOME MORE KANYE TEA - 52:14
FORGIVING KANYE - 55:48
KENDRICK VS DRAKE PT2 - 58:36
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Comments (25)
I haven't watched the whole video yet, so idk if this is mentioned at some point, but Taylor has actually spoken about this song and confirmed it was about Kanye. She said everyone was expecting her to write a song ABOUT him, but she felt it was more important to write a song TO him. And they played the video of him taking the microphone from her when she sang this song at the VMA's the following year.
They were dating at the time and that is part of why they broke up
If you like watching reaction videos Havik has really great takes on TS! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeUzOwsO1bBoMu_xsWD5L4XZ6q4d7MGt7&si=x9IcL9Nh7oRdHJpM
Well done a always. Speak Now is really incredible for her age. Be the magnum opus for lesser artist.
This was the most fun reaction to Innocent that I've seen! Love the deep dive you are on!
... 53 minutes in, childhood songs, play him The Best Day- totally country but so sweet - the video
Ok, if you’re doing the beef, when you going to watch thanK you aIMee? You HAVE to do that one!!
Oh and, that song at the end that you figured out was Dirks Bentley. It’s pretty similar to Ain’t Going Down Till The Sun Comes Up - Garth Brooks. I personally think he did a lot in regards to country having more pop/rock to it. lol
#1 Timeless fan here reporting for duty! 🕰️
I love the new mikes ormike accessories??
Mulan is my heart lol “you don’t find a girl like that every dynasty” 🫣
Yaaasss!!!! See you get it! 😍
Oh hey look, I know those bracelets 🤣
😍😍❤️❤️ Rick was too afraid to put one on and Katie hasn’t gotten hers in the mail yet (I’m waiting for a shirt I ordered for her so I can send it all at once haha) but I was so happy to see they fit me so well 😍
Loved this!!! I like hearing what the guys have to say just because I want them to love Taylor 😅🥰🥰
They were definitely dating at that time of the VMA’s. I think that’s exactly why they had Laughtner be the presenter for Swift. That’s what she is referencing when she writes “Forever Winter” and the “first time he saw her cry”. They broke up in December after that award show. This rocked her entire life. I would bet money that they could have lasted as a couple had Kanye not done that bullshit. As he always has and does. Whoops. You literally just said that. Way to go. Love having real fans on here!
Btw. I am subscribed! Go me. Hahaha. On Patreon and on YouTube. I got you covered!! 😉💖🌈🫶🏼
Taylor and Taylor were already dating when he presented her with VMA! They did NOT just meet that knight!
Yea like we said, they didn’t meet that night but everything I’ve ever heard said about it was that they were talking but not officially dating until a few days or so after this incident. No biggie though, either way there was an emotional connection tied to confusion that left him feeling guilty too. Kanye has a way of effecting numerous people in one fell swoop and it’s all sad at the end of the day 😭 thank you for the info though! 🫶🏼
I felt the song was her forgiving him.
I think so too which is just heartbreaking knowing what happens in the future.
Props to Katy! She didn't spoil it, and just let you hear it for yourself! I always felt it was Taylor telling a story to a very childlike Kanye.
Right?! She’s soo good! I was not expecting that line in the slightest and I’m so glad she let me experience it in real time. She’s the best ❤️🫶🏼 -C
I always saw INNOCENT as the Taylor's version of 'Bless your heart.' 😂
🤣🤣 so true!