John Legend isn’t holding back when it comes to his former friend and collaborator Kanye West.
In a brutally honest interview with The Times of London, the Grammy-winning singer said what many have been thinking, Kanye’s spiral into hate speech and extremist behavior is nothing short of a “sad devolution.” Legend, who was once signed to Kanye’s label GOOD Music in 2004 and enjoyed early success under his mentorship, said he’s shocked at how far West has fallen from the passionate, creative visionary he once was.
According to Legend, the Kanye he once knew had “so much optimism, so much creativity,” and was driven by huge dreams for himself and those around him. But now, that image has been replaced with something unrecognizable. “It does feel sad, sometimes shocking, to see where he is now,” he said. And what’s really troubling him is Kanye’s growing obsession with antisemitism and anti-Blackness, which Legend slammed outright in the interview.
Kanye’s recent controversies have only intensified public concern. The release of his song Heil Hitler (Hooligan Version) has sparked outrage. The track includes samples of an actual Adolf Hitler speech from 1935 and ends with lyrics defending Hitler’s actions. It was shared by Kanye himself on X (formerly Twitter) and was accompanied by disturbing visuals of shirtless men in animal fur. In the song, Kanye blames his personal issues, including the custody battle with Kim Kardashian and his frozen bank accounts, for his radicalization. He raps, “So I became a Nazi, yeah, b***h, I’m the villain,” making it clear that he’s leaning into the controversy rather than backing away.
John Legend didn’t directly comment on the song, but he made it clear that this version of Kanye is a far cry from the one he came up with in the early 2000s. Legend also reflected on a possible turning point: the death of Kanye’s mother, Donda West, in 2007. “I don’t think we’re qualified to psychoanalyze him,” Legend said, “but after his mother passed, there was definitely a difference. His descent started then and seems to have accelerated recently.”
Their personal fallout also played a role in the growing distance. Legend began to publicly distance himself after Kanye endorsed Donald Trump in 2022 and began voicing far-right views. That was the breaking point for many of Kanye’s friends and collaborators, and Legend was no exception.
From creative powerhouse to controversial provocateur, Kanye West’s journey has been as public as it’s been painful to watch. And for someone like John Legend, who once called him a friend, it’s more than disappointing. It’s devastating.
- John Legend Calls Out Kanye West’s ‘Sad Devolution’ - May 12, 2025
- Simu Liu Pops the Question in Paris and She Said Yes - May 12, 2025
- Brenda Song Says DoorDash Is Basically Her Lifeline - May 12, 2025
