‘Extreme Speaker’ Kanye West Publicly Apologizes To Beck, This Time For Real (Maybe)

Humble pie isn’t exactly a staple of Kanye West’s diet. But lest anyone think the notoriously outspoken rapper, producer, and reality walk-on is averse to eating a bit of crow now and again, West recently proved otherwise as he walked back his infamous off-the-cuff critique of fellow recording artist Beck.

As previously reported by Rolling Stone, West directed some jaw-droppingly unflattering comments towards Beck earlier this year when Beck’s Morning Phase won the Grammy for Album of the Year. At one point, Kanye even made a run at the mic to interrupt Beck’s acceptance speech, much like he did when Taylor Swift won big several years prior.

According to Us Weekly, Kanye recently reflected on the controversy in an interview with the Sunday Times, indicating that he was wrong to question Beck’s artistic integrity and to suggest that Beck should have handed his Grammy over to fellow nominee Beyonce.

“I’m fine to apologize for inaccuracies,” West told The Sunday Times. “You know, I send flowers for inaccuracies. I talked to Beck’s wife [Marissa Ribisi], and I think I had a point about Beyonce’s album, but I think I was inaccurate with the concept of a gentleman who plays 14 instruments not respecting artistry.”

It’s not the first time that the male half of the media machine known as “Kimye” has lamented his emotionally charged rebuke of Beck. Following backlash from his Grammy-related shenanigans, Kanye tweeted a succinct apology for his comments but then followed it up with a head-scratcher, saying that he had wanted to call Beck on the phone but kept “forgetting.” Folks were understandably cynical of where West was coming from at the time.

Kanye says that people who don’t get him can chalk it up to the fact that he’s an “extreme speaker,” according to additional excerpts from the Sunday Times interview posted by NME.

Most artists evolve over time with respect to their visions, talents, and even their public and private senses of identity. Although he’s a formidable force in the production booth and on the mic, even Yeezus himself says his life is pretty boring these days. A doting dad and husband, Kanye also has a new baby boy on the way, and he even seems to have developed a soft spot for former nemesis and “fellow artist” George W. Bush. Indeed, it could well be that we’re seeing a kinder, gentler Kanye West these days. But don’t believe it until Kanye shows up on the red carpet sporting a button-down cardigan sweater with a Beck t-shirt underneath.