Amber Rose Admits Part of the Blame for Kanye West and Taylor Swift VMA Drama

Amber Rose has spoken openly for the first time about her role in the infamous Kanye West and Taylor Swift VMAs drama of 2009, admitting that she shares partial responsibility for the moment that defined a decade of celebrity feuds. In a candid conversation on the May 5 episode of the Ball in the Family Podcast With Lonzo & Gelo Ball, Rose, who was dating West at the time, revealed how she may have contributed to the rapper’s decision to interrupt Swift’s acceptance speech for Best Female Video at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

Rose, now 42, acknowledged that she and West had consumed multiple shots of Hennessy before arriving at the awards show. “I was with Kanye at the time. We get in the car, we’re about to go to the VMAs and I go, ‘Babe, you got that bottle of Hennessy upstairs. You a superstar. You need to get the Henny. We need to be taking shots of Henny on the [red] carpet,’” she recalled. “That’s how I am as a girlfriend, but it kind of backfired because all of a sudden I’m sitting there and he’s on stage. I’m like, ‘Oh s***, I was not expecting that.’”

The incident unfolded when West stormed the stage during Swift’s acceptance speech, declaring that Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” should have won instead of Swift’s “You Belong With Me.” “Yo, Taylor, I’m really happy for you, I’mma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time! One of the best videos of all time,” West proclaimed, sparking a feud that has resonated through pop culture ever since.

Looking back, Rose said she does not agree with how West handled the moment, but she does believe he was correct in his assessment of the award. “That’s naturally Kanye’s personality,” she explained. “Do I agree with how he did it? No. But was he right? Yes.”

Rose also clarified that she and Swift never had a falling out over the incident, despite the public fallout. “I have [spoken to her]. When my 13-year-old son was younger, he was a big Swiftie. She sent us a big box of all her merch, got us tickets to the concert,” Rose said. “We still have a bunch of Taylor Swift merch for my son and stuff like that. She understood that it wasn’t me that did it. I think we all got older and learned from our mistakes. It was a time in history that happened.”

The 2009 VMAs moment remains one of the most talked-about incidents in awards show history, and Rose’s admission adds a new layer to the story, highlighting the personal dynamics behind the public spectacle. Her reflection underscores how even the most memorable moments in entertainment can have personal and private origins, and how relationships—both romantic and professional—shape the narratives that define an era.

The VMAs Incident: A Timeline of the Outburst

The moment that shocked the world unfolded on September 13, 2009, at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Taylor Swift had just won the Best Female Video award for “You Belong With Me,” beating out Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It).” As Swift began her acceptance speech, Kanye West took the microphone from her, interrupting to declare that Beyoncé’s video was superior.

Swift, visibly stunned, did not finish her speech. The audience initially reacted with shock, followed by a standing ovation in her support. Later in the show, Beyoncé invited Swift onstage to accept the Video of the Year award, offering a gesture of solidarity.

West’s outburst was met with immediate backlash, and he later issued an apology on his blog, acknowledging his mistake and expressing regret for disrupting Swift’s moment. The incident cemented West’s reputation for bold, often controversial behavior and marked the beginning of a long-standing public feud with Swift, which has played out in music, interviews, and public statements over the years.

Why It Still Matters

More than a decade after the VMAs incident, the story continues to captivate audiences, serving as a reminder of how quickly moments can become legendary—and how personal dynamics can shape public narratives. Rose’s recent admission offers a rare glimpse into the private conversations and decisions that led up to one of the most infamous moments in entertainment history. It also highlights the complexity of celebrity relationships, where loyalty and public perception often collide.

As both Swift and West have evolved in their careers, their dynamic has shifted from feud to occasional reconciliation, reflecting how even the most contentious relationships can find common ground over time. The 2009 VMAs moment remains a defining chapter in the annals of music and awards show history, and Rose’s reflection adds a new dimension to the story.