Taylor Swift’s rise to the #1 spot in the entertainment industry is due to a combination of her music, performances, and her skillful management of both to deliver a complex and heartwarming product while making the best profit out of it.
Moreover, Swift has solidified her brand as a powerful woman by skillfully navigating and emerging victorious from various public feuds. Prior to her “Reputation” era, she faced setbacks in clashes with other A-list celebrities, but she transformed these challenges into triumphs.
One of her most notable battles began at the 2009 MTV Awards when Kanye West interrupted her acceptance speech for Best Female Video, declaring that Beyoncé deserved the award instead. More than a decade later, this feud still simmers, with Kanye recently reigniting it. Taylor, true to form, has not remained silent.
What did Kanye say about Taylor in Vultures 2, and how did she respond?
In February of this year, Kanye West released an Instagram video discussing his upcoming album Vultures 2, alongside Ty Dolla $ign. Anticipating a backlash from Swifties, he warned them that not only would his lyrics address Taylor Swift but there would also be some jabs aimed at her boyfriend, Travis Kelce.
When the album dropped on August 3, it did not meet expectations for a major feud. The alleged shots weren’t delivered by Kanye himself but by Ty Dolla Sign, and they were quite subtle, with the only line being “I twist my Taylor spliffs tight at the end like Travis Kelce.” This led Swifties to accuse Kanye of being a coward for not delivering a more impactful diss as promised.
However, Kanye’s troubles were far from over. On the album’s release day, Taylor Swift fired at him by announcing a limited-time digital version of The Tortured Poets Department, featuring the bonus track “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys” in its raw phone memo version. This strategic move was a clear attempt to overshadow Kanye’s release. And it was not the only one.
On August 4, the day after Vultures 2 launched, Taylor further thwarted Kanye’s success by re-releasing special editions of The Tortured Poets Department on her online store, offering them at a 13% discount for just a few hours until 11:59 PM ET. These maneuvers helped her reclaim the #1 spot on the Billboard 200, effectively closing any chance for Ye to top the charts. Look what you made her do!