Kanye West and Taylor Swift’s decade-old feud has taken a fresh twist with the release of new lyrics from Kanye’s latest album, “Vultures 2”. The song “Lifestyle (Demo)” includes a line that references Taylor Swift’s romance with Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end, Travis Kelce, “I twist my Taylor spliffs tight at the end like Travis Kelce.”
The lyric has sparked controversy, and Travis Kelce’s father, Ed, took to Facebook to share his thoughts, posting the Daily Mail article about the song with a stark comment, “Mental illness on full display.” The renewed mention of Swift in Ye’s lyrics reminds fans of their tumultuous history.
This tumultuous history dates back to the infamous 2009 MTV Video Music Awards when Kanye interrupted Swift’s acceptance speech to proclaim Beyonce Knowles as the more deserving winner.
This isn’t the first instance where Kanye has referenced Swift in his music. His 2016 track “Famous” included the provocative lines, “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex/ Why? I made that b**** famous.”
This lyric was reportedly unbeknownst to Swift at the time, leading to further drama when Kanye’s then-wife, Kim Kardashian, released edited audio attempting to show Taylor’s approval of the line. Despite the scandal, Swift maintained that she was never made fully aware of Kanye’s intentions.
Taylor Swift has not publicly responded to the recent lyric, likely focusing on her immensely successful Eras Tour.
However, her tour has faced its own challenges, including the recent cancellation of her Vienna, Austria shows due to a terrifying threat of violence.
The suspect, a 19-year-old male, confessed to planning an attack at Ernst Happel Stadium where Swift was set to perform. The Eras Tour, widely praised for its production and setlist, began its European leg in May and will continue with a highly anticipated show at Wembley Stadium in London.
Afterward, Swift will return to the United States and Canada for the tour’s final leg, closing out in December.
The evolving narrative of the West-Swift feud is yet another layer in the public lives of these two influential artists. For young fans, the feud serves as a dramatic saga that’s captured their attention for over a decade.
