John Legend is openly talking about his former friend Kanye West.
Their rise to fame was closely connected, as they worked closely at the beginning of their careers. Legend signed with West’s G.O.O.D Music and West helped shape his debut album “Get Lifted” in 2004.
Despite their paths diverging creatively, contractually, and politically, there was always a mutual respect and friendship between the two. However, that changed recently.
In one of his infamous rants, West insulted John Legend, calling him a “sissy” who “smells like mashed potatoes.”
Now, the ‘All of Me’ singer is speaking about West’s current downward spiral.
In an interview with The Times, John Legend said of an early West:
“He had so much optimism, so much creativity. It does feel sad, sometimes shocking, to see where he is now.”
He added:
“I didn’t see [then] a hint of what we’re seeing now, his obsessions with antisemitism, anti-blackness, and it is sad to see his devolution.”
As for the rationalizing West’s problematic antics, the 46-year-old pointed to the passing of the rapper’s mom, Donda West. He shared:
“I don’t think we’re qualified to psychoanalyse him, but after his mother passed in 2007 there was definitely a difference. His descent started then and seems to have accelerated recently.”
