Kanye West Keeps Trying, And Failing, To Start Feuds

Kanye West has been on the warpath lately, targeting his ex-wife Kim Kardashian and pop sensation Billie Eilish through Instagram; neither seem particularly interested in a public feud, despite West’s best efforts.

As West and Kardashian continue to navigate a messy divorce, West has broadcasted many of their disagreements loud and clear to the public, claiming that Kardashian did not invite him to their daughter’s birthday party, and voicing his extreme disapproval of the fact that his daughter has a TikTok account.

The latter prompted Kardashian to respond:

“Kanye’s constant attacks on me in interviews and on social media is actually more hurtful than any TikTok North might create … I am doing my best to protect our daughter while also allowing her to express her creativity in the medium that she wishes with adult supervision.”

Kardashian concluded by writing that she wishes to “handle all matters regarding our children privately.”

Kanye had another attempt at a feud when he included references to SNL performer Pete Davidson, Kardashian’s current boyfriend, in his music. Davidson once poked fun of West in a memorable SNL sketch, and now finds himself on the receiving end of West’s half-hearted rhymes. Earlier this year, on the track “Eazy,” West rapped:

“God saved me from that crash, just so I can beat Pete Davidson’s ass.”

West recently made another reference to Davidson in his latest single, which prompted a dismissive response; a source reportedly close to Davidson told TMZ:

“Pete is focusing on his relationship with Kim and making sure she feels supported, the rest is just noise.”

West is also in the midst of another feud, now demanding an apology from 20-year old pop star Billie Eilish on behalf of Travis Scott, after Eilish ensured that one of her concertgoers was given an inhaler when needed. After ensuring the fan was safe, Eilish stated: 

“I wait for the people to be OK before I keep going.”

News outlets framed Eilish’s statement as a direct attack on Scott, seemingly prompting West to do the same. Scott has been widely criticized for his conduct during the Astroworld tragedy, in which 10 people died, as well as his reckless approach to safety in previous concerts.

In an Instagram post targeting Eilish, West noted that he would not attend Coachella unless Eilish apologized (in the wake of senseless tragedy, won’t someone please consider Travis Scott’s feelings?).

Although Scott himself didn’t weigh in on the controversy, he did like West’s Instagram post.

Eilish, however, seemed unfazed, noting that she had never mentioned Scott directly in her short response to West.

West’s attack on Eilish sparked a conversation on social media, as West’s critics pointed out that this was the second time the rapper has targeted a young female singer (West famously interrupted Taylor Swift on stage at the VMA awards when she was 19).

West’s brash behavior with Swift didn’t just inspire a million memes – it sparked a feud that was soon resolved, then reignited, years later, with West’s song “Famous” and a recorded phone conversation which was later revealed to be edited.

The Netflix documentary Miss Americana saw Swift look back on the incident and discuss how it impacted her:

“… I felt like I finally got that respect, but then soon realized that for him it was about him creating some revisionist history where he was right all along, and it was correct, right and decent for him to get up and do that to a teenage girl.” 

Swift added: “I don’t think too hard about this stuff now.”