Kanye West claims he was set to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration—until the former president’s team asked him to issue another apology for his past antisemitic remarks.
According to TMZ, During a Grammys after-party with Justin LaBoy, Ye explained his absence, saying he felt like he was being “censored.” He also joked about not knowing the definition of antisemitism. The conversation took place on LaBoy’s yet-to-be-released podcast episode, which was played at the event. TMZ obtained footage from inside, showing Kanye watching the clip with apparent pride.
The discussion didn’t stop there. Ye weighed in on the ongoing Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake feud, siding with Kendrick and claiming the Compton rapper is “elevating rap’s frequency.” Still, he gave Drake credit, likening him to Steph Curry and acknowledging his long-term influence on music.
At the event, Kanye also hyped up LaBoy’s podcast, calling him “the culture’s Joe Rogan” in front of a crowd that included The Game, Will.i.am, John Monopoly, and Jim Jones.
Before the night wrapped up, Ye made one more big announcement: His new album, Bully, is dropping June 15—his daughter North West’s birthday.
Elsewhere, Kanye and his wife, Bianca Censori, also made waves at the Grammys red carpet, with Bianca’s revealing outfit sparking plenty of online debate. Some reports even claimed the couple was kicked out of the event, but sources tell TMZ that’s not the case.
According to insiders, Ye was an invited guest—nominated for Best Rap Song—and left on his own terms after making his red carpet appearance. Law enforcement sources also confirmed no complaints were made about Bianca’s see-through ensemble, despite the controversy it caused online.
Notably, this marked Kanye’s first time attending the Grammys since 2015, making his brief yet headline-grabbing appearance all the more surprising.
