Billboard Apologizes to Taylor Swift After Kanye West Video Sparks Outrage

Billboard found itself in hot water after sparking backlash from Taylor Swift’s fans. The chart-topping publication recently named the pop icon the second-biggest pop star of the 21st century, but it wasn’t the ranking that caused the uproar—it was the accompanying video.

The promo clip included a snippet from Kanye West’s controversial “Famous” music video, which featured a nude wax figure of Taylor Swift. For Swifties, the inclusion of this imagery in a video meant to celebrate Taylor’s achievements was nothing short of insulting.

If you need a refresher, Kanye’s 2016 “Famous” video and its lyrics (“I made that b**** famous”) reignited the longstanding feud between the rapper and the pop star. At the time, Kanye’s then-wife Kim Kardashian claimed Taylor was aware of the song’s content. However, leaked recordings revealed Taylor was not given full details, leaving her blindsided by the track’s release.

After facing swift backlash, Billboard pulled the video and issued an apology on X (formerly Twitter). “We are deeply sorry to Taylor Swift and all of our readers and viewers that in a video celebrating Swift’s achievements, we included a clip that falsely depicted her,” the statement read. “We have removed the clip from our video and sincerely regret the harm we caused with this error.”

Fans have since taken to social media to express their disappointment, with many pointing out that Taylor deserved better from one of the most reputable music publications in the world.

Taylor’s ranking as the second-biggest pop star of the century still stands, but for many, the damage was already done. As for Billboard, the lesson learned is clear: When celebrating someone’s legacy, leave the drama in the past.