July 17, 2016β¦ It was officially seven years since that hot summer day when Kim Kardashian dropped the biggest bombshell: Leaked footage of a phone call between Taylor Swift and Kanye West. It's seven years later, and Taylor Swift finally revealed her side of the aftermath following the leaked phone call. After this much time has passed, you think this incident would be forgotten by the public and thrown into the long lists of celebrity dramas throughout history. But think again, because Taylor came back and she did not come to play.
Origins
Before I dive into what Taylor has later revealed about the phone call incident, it's recap time! I'm sure most of you have forgotten the specific details of how this went down in the first place, especially since, at some point, Kim and Taylor were on good terms with each other. Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian's relationship has been a rollercoaster.
Initially, Kardashian expressed admiration for Swift in 2009, even claiming to be her biggest fan. They posed together at events like the MTV EMAs in 2012 and even shared friendly moments, like embracing at the Grammys in 2015 after Swift and Kanye West reconciled. However, things took a turn in 2016 when West released "Famous" with lyrics that included a derogatory reference to Swift. The lyrics stated, "I feel like me and Taylor might still have s*x. Why? I made that b**ch famous (Goddamn), I made that b**ch famous." The public was outraged at the poor language used towards Swift. Swift stated that she never approved of the lyrics and even cautioned West against adding the lyrics to the song because of its "misogynistic" undertones.
Kim Kardashian claimed Swift knew of the lyrics, releasing an edited phone call as proof. Swift defended herself, stating the call didn't reveal the full context, leading to public backlash and Swift feeling attacked. The snake emoji made its resurgence in Swift's social media posts as Kim Kardashian shaded Taylor Swift by implying she's a snake based on her previous X (Formally known as Twitter) Post.
This drama escalated with Swift's album "Reputation," featuring snake imagery and references to the feud. The strained relationship saw further references in Swift's "Look What You Made Me Do" music video, symbolizing a continued rift between them.
In January 2019, Kim declared the feud over on "Watch What Happens Live," but Swift hinted at lingering issues in March, mentioning that Kim and Kanye never apologized to her for the leaked phone call. Then, another leaked phone call in March 2020 reignited the conflict. Kardashian defended herself, emphasizing that Swift wasn't truthful about the call.
Swift responded by redirecting attention to charity during the pandemic. Kardashian later complimented Swift's music in December 2021. Fast forward to October 2023, Kardashian shared a Taylor Swift song on her birthday, sparking speculation given their rocky past. This brings us to this month, where Taylor Swift is still pretty upset over what happened previously.
The Boiling Pot
In a recent interview with Time Magazine, Taylor Swift delved into a chapter of her life that's rarely revisited in public conversations: the infamous leaked phone call incident involving Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. As the world celebrates her as Time's 2023 Person of the Year, Swift takes a moment to share her personal journey through what she describes as a "career death."
In her conversation with Time, Swift reflects on the emotional toll of what she terms a "fully manufactured frame job" and an "illegally recorded phone call." She highlights how Kardashian edited and released the call to portray her as a liar, an act that she says took her "down psychologically to a place [she'd] never been before." The fallout from the leaked call led Swift to make significant life changes. Swift candidly admits, "I moved to a foreign country. I didn't leave a rental house for a year.
I was afraid to get on phone calls. I pushed away most people in my life because I didn't trust anyone anymore. I went down really, really hard."
This glimpse into Swift's vulnerability during that period unveils a side of the megastar that the public rarely sees. Despite the external success, with chart-topping singles like "Look What You Made Me Do" and impressive album sales for Reputation, Swift felt the impact deeply, describing it as being "canceled within an inch of my life and sanity."
As we revisit this tumultuous chapter with Swift, it's a reminder that even amidst immense success, superstars grapple with personal struggles. Swift's openness about her mental and emotional state during this time provides a humanizing perspective on a globally recognized artist. Swift's resilience shines through in the face of adversity, proving that her journey is as much about personal growth as it is about professional success.
Is this the end?
After the interview went to mainstream media, fans of Taylor Swift and the Kardashians alike came together to share their opinions. There have been mixed responses from every one, with some claiming that Kim should apologize once and for all and others saying that Taylor Swift should move on and get over what happened years ago.
Unlike most scandals, this one is a timeless conversation topic resulting from years of tension brewing. It's unclear whether Kim Kardashian will bother to respond or remain silent on the matter. Especially since she wanted to be the one to declare the beef between them "over" and for everyone to move and forget about the situation.
However, I doubt that Taylor will be letting go of this situation anytime soon. But who knows? Maybe this could be a hint towards the release of Reputation (Taylor's Version)? Only time will tell.
