Kanye West
The egocentric rapper/producer (who I'll admit I happen to like... I have all of his CD's to date) walked up to her and said, "I'll let you finish but I just want to say... Beyonce had the best video of all time last year!" All time? Hey fella, have you ever heard of Micheal Jackson... "Thriller", "Smooth Criminal", etc.?
Okay, I'll let that fly. I liked her song "Single Ladies"... it's catchy and when I'm in the bathroom and the door is closed, I've actually sung the hook... "If ya like it then ya shoulda put a ring on it." I've even seen some brothers in a barber shop (that was closed at the time) doing the dance steps from the video (shaking my head and going, hmmmm). I'm sure they thought that no one saw them from outside since the shop was closed. (Curtains, brothers! Curtains! That's what they are for!) My point being, however catchy it is, it's far from the greatest video of all time and don't get it twisted... even Beyonce knows that.
Beyonce was gracious. She seized a moment later on that night when she won an award to allow young Taylor Swift to come up and have her moment at the mike. By the time Taylor Swift came to the mike, Kanye West had been asked to leave and was no longer in the building. I have to love Beyonce for that. I guess she said, "I'm not with this fool", meaning Kanye West.
Although this was supposed to be about him praising Beyonce, this was really about him creating controversy and putting the spotlight on himself once again. They say there is no such thing as bad publicity and they're probably right. People booed him resoundingly and around the blogosphere, he has been universally condemned for his actions... but, he is in the spotlight. He is the man with clout that everybody is yapping about, as Biggie would say.
And then, there was Serena...
Serena Williams
It seems that Serena had a little blow-up following her tennis match on Saturday and delivered a profanity-laced diatribe to a lineswoman, which caused her to be penalized and also cost her the match. She was short on contrition in the post-match news conference after her finger-pointing tirade at the lineswoman Saturday night and again in a prepared statement Sunday. "I want to sincerely apologize FIRST to the lineswoman, Kim Clijsters, the USTA and mostly tennis fans everywhere for my inappropriate outburst", Williams' statement said. It was released by the U.S. Tennis Association about a half-hour before Williams and her sister, Venus, played in the Women's Doubles Final, which they won for their 10th Grand Slam title as a team.
When given a chance to publicly deliver an apology during the post-match ceremony, Serena Williams declined. "I'm a woman of great pride, faith, and integrity, and I admit when I'm wrong", her written statement said. "I need to make it clear to all young people that I handled myself inappropriately and it's not the way to act -- win or lose, good call or bad call in any sport, in any manner. I like to lead by example. We all learn from experiences both good and bad, I will learn and grow from this, and be a better person as a result."
Serena Williams lost her temper after the lineswoman called a foot fault, resulting in a double-fault that moved Clijsters one point from victory. Williams was then penalized a point for her outburst. Because it happened to come on match point, it ended the semi-final with Clijsters ahead 6-4, 7-5. Clijsters went on to win the championship Sunday.
I'm not judging here, just stating the facts. It has just been a wild week and weekend of ridiculously bad public behavior. We've already had a decidedly unapologetic U.S. Representative call the President of the United States a liar in one instant, apologize off camera, and yet, act a completely different way around his supporters, as though he's not really sorry at all. Kanye and Serena have given, what I believe to be sincere apologies for their acts... on the other hand, Joe Wilson has not.
Representative Joe Wilson
That's my problem with Representative Wilson... he apologizes off-camera to the president's aide and the president accepts his apology. Yet, he refuses to apologize to his colleagues on the House floor in public. He then tells the legion of the stupid (Rush Limbaugh and fans) that he stands by what he said. What is he sorry for then? He'd get more respect from me if he said nothing. Then again, that's just the way I'm looking at it... doesn't make it right.
I will say one thing... this recent bad behavior is certainly giving me a lot to write about. Gotta love it!
25 comments:
You know how it goes...keep the "brothers" in line while letting the "caucasions" do as they please.
Of course, that's not what I wanted to say.
Kanye was outright wrong, but this is his m.o. so I'm not that surprised. Kanye is just being Kanye.
Serena, they say, was on the verge of losing, then she got a bad call (video shows that it was) which added to the tension of trying to mount a comeback. She just lost it. No biggie. She just forgot where she was at, because had she been amongst our people we would have just said she was blowing off steam.
Politicians will be poli-tricksters.
Enough said.
Peace
I agree with Rich. 'Ye is a spoiled brat. He's an asshole. We all know that. I can't say that I was shocked that he did this. However, I know he wouldn't have done this to a DUDE! He would've gotten laid out right there on that stage. If he felt the way that he felt, he could have addressed it in the media after the show or privately.
I'm not gonna condemn Serena. In the heat of the battle, anybody can lose their cool.
Joe Wilson...kill yo damn self. LOL
What a weekend!
Kanye was being Kanye. But I always felt he has issues that he needs to deal with.
Serena was in the moment. She was mad and I was mad for her too.
Kanye is crazy, but he isn't that crazy. Like the Celebrity Snitch from the TJMS said, he won't try that at the BET awards...with that being said, he knows his limits.
Serena let off some steam, but I wasn't happy about it b/c I wanted her to win...maybe next time.
No words for Joe...just my ass to kiss.
Yes cousin, this bad behavior must be in the water we drink. I'm no fan of Kanye's but I can recognize bad behavior when I see it. I still think the boy is reeling from the sudden death of his mother. He was/is a "spoiled brat" albeit talented (so you and others say.) In the past his behavior has gotten just what he wanted: attention. For sister girl Serena, I think she was cheated out of the USTA title for Kim's sake. NO line judge calls foot faults at that level of tournament play. Even big mouth tennis player John McEnroe admitted that these things don't get called. I watch Wimbledon every year and see these faults from my tv at home and I don't remember hearing that call at all. Yes her foul language was unacceptable but to me it was understandable when she was being cheated. You know what I think of Joe, the ignorant. It's okay for him to apologize once very softly and keep moving forward without any consequence. But Serena should be fined $300,000?!?!! Mike Vick should never play again?!?!! Van Jones should be silenced forever?!?!! What a world!!
Roger Federer getting his curse on has not been mentioned anywhere.
Kanye's behavior didn't surprise me at all. Things like that happen when you guzzle Hennessey before going to an awards show. He's an insecure child who doesn't realize he needs people to buy those cds. I'm sure he lost some fans.
Serena is so intense. She had every right to be upset. She just handled it the wrong way. I'm sure she learned her lesson.
I really like his music but dont know that much about him. This really upset me, the guy is an idiot!!
I'm trying to imagine you in the bathroom singing the hook to Single Ladies...That's too funny!
Keith,this is too funny!
It was a weekend of bad behavior..I think something was in the water.
While I have no excuse for Kanye and Joe Wilson...Serena was just upset because bad calls were being made.
I agree with Arlene..Why is Serena being fined ,Mike Vick being scrutinized still and Van Jones silenced while Joe Wilson suffers nothing??? It's not fair.
These are stressful times..Don't be surprised if you don't see more bad behavior.
Kanye was just being Kanye..an attention whore!
Give Serena a break...Those calls being made on her were BS calls...I watched the entire met.
I would've been upset too!
Great Photo of Serena..I'm just sayin...lolol
Great Post as usual...You're my CNN
Keith! -:)
I'm with tate2...Great Photo of Serena...Is that what she had on Sunday during the match?
Just askin.....Oh, and great post as usual!
People are stressed fam...Look at what's going on...People are acting out pent up frustrations.
I was appalled at Kanye West on the MVA's the other night.
He looked even stupider last night on Jay Leno.
Kanye West is a spoiled brat...Serena was upset and in the heat of the moment..Joe Wilson is an asshole..That sums it up for me in a nutshell.
I couldn't be a celebrity or public figure Keith..I can't apologize when I really don't mean it. (ie-Serena, Joe Wilson)
Another good one Mister CNN of Bloggers!-lolol.
Haven't read the other comments, but about Serena: I think the whole thing is way overblown b/c she's black. People yell at officials all the time and aren't forced to apologize. B/c she's the big scary black woman she gets more criticism.
Thanks so much for your post, pretty helpful material.
Post a Comment