The music publication faces backlash for mistakenly using a clip that “falsely depicted” the pop star in a video celebrating her achievements.
Billboard has issued a public apology to Taylor Swift after a major blunder in their video celebrating her career. The video, which aimed to honor Swift for being named the second-greatest pop star of the 21st century, inadvertently included a clip from Kanye West’s infamous 2016 “Famous” music video. The footage, which shows a naked wax figure of Swift in bed with West, has long been a point of controversy due to its connection to the tumultuous feud between the two artists.
In response to the backlash from Swift’s devoted fanbase, Billboard took to social media to express their regret. The company apologized for the “nasty” clip and acknowledged the harm it caused, especially to Swift, whose achievements the video was meant to celebrate. They promptly removed the offending clip and reposted the video without it, offering their sincerest apologies to both Swift and their audience.
The inclusion of the “Famous” video clip reignited the ongoing feud between Swift and West, which dates back to the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards when West interrupted Swift’s acceptance speech. Over the years, the dispute has been fueled by public statements, songs, and music videos, most notably West’s “Famous,” in which he infamously rapped, “I made that bitch famous,” referring to Swift. The song’s release and the accompanying video further complicated the matter, with Swift publicly objecting to the lyrics and the portrayal of her in the video.
Swift’s fans, known as “Swifties,” were quick to express their outrage over the clip’s inclusion, launching a social media campaign demanding accountability from Billboard. Hashtags such as #BillboardIsOverParty and #BillboardApologizeToTaylor began trending on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), calling for the entertainment giant to make amends.
Billboard’s apology comes after years of public tension between Swift and West. In 2016, Swift took issue with the line in “Famous,” claiming she had not approved the lyrics. The controversy escalated when Kim Kardashian, West’s wife at the time, released a recorded phone call between Swift and West, suggesting that Swift had agreed to the song’s controversial line. Swift later clarified that she was not aware of the specific wording, and in 2020, the full, unedited phone call was leaked, revealing that Swift had been misrepresented.
Swift has previously described the psychological toll that the public dispute and media manipulation took on her, explaining how it affected her mental health and sense of self. In a 2020 interview with Time, she revealed the emotional impact of the fallout from the “Famous” controversy, describing it as a time when her career “was taken away” from her.
While the music video clip fiasco has stirred up old wounds, it has also reignited conversations about the lasting effects of media manipulation and the importance of accurate representation. Swift’s fans have continued to rally behind her, supporting her journey as she wraps up her record-breaking Eras Tour.
