Kanye's new NSFW video includes naked Swift, Trump and Cosby
Jaws on the floor.
That was the initial reaction from 8,000 fans inside the Forum in Inglewood, Calif. on Friday night, when Kanye West debuted his new music video for Famous, the first single off his album, The Life of Pablo. We were there – and here's what you need to know.
Everyone is naked
Inspired by realist painter Vincent Desiderio's 2008 'Sleep' painting, Famous features 12 celebrities (or more likely, their wax likenesses) in repose, naked, tangled in a bed of white sheets together. Who is everyone? Taylor Swift, George W. Bush, Donald Trump, Anna Wintour, Chris Brown, Kim Kardashian, Ray J, Amber Rose, Caitlyn Jenner, Bill Cosby and Rihanna (who sings the hook on Famous). “It’s not in support or anti any of (the people in the video)," West told Vanity Fair. "It’s a comment on fame.”
Yet the nudity in Famous is notably disproportionate between genders. Women's breasts are prominently featured, including a depiction of Rihanna's breastplate tattoos, but the lens focuses only on famous men's behinds. And two women are censored more than others: a naked Wintour lies discreetly on her side, and while Kim Kardashian's butt is bared, her likeness lies facedown, and her 'breasts' remain covered.
Swift's disrobed inclusion in Famous is notable, as she and West had famously buried the hatchet last year, before Famous arrived with a derogatory line aimed her way. West publicly said Swift approved the lyric. Swift denied it. “She totally approved that," Kim Kardashian insisted to GQ earlier this month. Swift's rep responded in GQ that the pop star felt "humiliated" by the song, and added "Taylor cannot understand why Kanye West, and now Kim Kardashian, will not just leave her alone.” So this shouldn't help things.
But it's all fake, right?
It's unclear if any of the stars actually posed for the video, so wax figures are likely. But the depictions of the newsmakers are scarily realistic. (Trump’s camp swiftly denied to Variety the GOP candidate was involved in the shoot.) A request for comment was not immediately returned by Swift's rep.
How did the crowd react?
From shock to delight to boos (specifically when Trump and Cosby popped up), the crowd at the Forum overall seemed thrilled watching the 100-foot screen. After the music video played, a grinning West turned and embraced his wife, kissing her three times.
He played it twice
West told Vanity Fair the video took three months to create. "I want to thank all of you all, my family. And y'all supporting ideas and truth. I got one question though. Would you like me to play that back?" West asked Friday night, holding a microphone. The crowd cheered, and before Famous played an encore, West gave one more specific shout-out. "I would like to thank the artist Vincent Desiderio who inspired the final tableau," he said.
It was a family affair
The VIP list was made for reality cameras (which were conveniently present, trailing the Kardashians' every move.) And almost the entire KUWTK clan was there, from Kim, who stood by West in the sound booth and documented the night with selfies, to Kris and Kylie Jenner (Kylie even brought her ex, Tyga). Kourtney Kardashian was also at the Forum, along with Scott Disick and French Montana.
A final thanks
In the video's credits West offers “special thanks” to each celebrity featured “for being famous.” The visual for Famous will be streamed exclusively on Tidal for one week.