People Mourn How Much Kanye West Has Changed 20 Years After ‘George Bush Doesn’t Care About Black People’
In 2005, Kanye West infamously went off-script in a benefit for those impacted by Hurricane Katrina to say that “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people.” The comment caused quite a stir, with Bush later calling it one of the lowest points of his presidency. West later walked back the remark. Twenty years later, though, he feels even further removed from the sentiment than he did when he apologized. People are reflecting on the ways that West has changed since 2005.
Kanye West called out George W. Bush after Hurricane Katrina
On Sept. 2, 2005, West and Mike Myers appeared as hosts on the celebrity-filled Concert for Hurricane Relief. During the live benefit, West informed Myers that he was going to “ad-lib a little bit.” He then criticized the media for the way they portrayed the Black victims of the disaster.
“I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a Black family, it says they’re looting,” he said. “If you see a White family, it says they’re looking for food.”
He asserted his belief that the sluggish federal relief efforts were a direct result of New Orleans’ large Black population. Myers continued with the planned script, which West followed up with the now infamous line: “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people.”
His remarks stirred up a great deal of controversy, prompting NBC to distance itself from his remarks. West stood by his words, though.
“People have lost their lives, lost their families,” he said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. “It’s the least I could do to go up there and say something from my heart, to say something that’s real.”
People are discussing how much the artist has changed
On the 20th anniversary of the telethon, people are recalling West’s remarks and the ways he’s changed since making them. In recent years, West has gone on antisemitic rants, described himself as a Nazi, and praised Adolf Hitler.
“Look at Kanye now. Ugh,” wrote one Reddit user. “I remember seeing this live and being shocked, but impressed – he seemed kind of terrified, but he had a truth to speak and just pushed forward. What a pathetic waste (what he’s become).”
“It’s wild to see Kanye looking legitimately nervous to say something controversial,” wrote another person. “In this case, it was actually a legitimate thing to say (even if ill timed) but nowadays, dude’s perfectly happy to spout off about his love of Hitler without even batting an eye. Crazy how money and fame changes a person.”
West’s remarks didn’t go over well at the time, but many social media users now believe he was entirely justified. They’ve expressed regret that West no longer uses his platform in this way.
“Sad that this guy doesn’t exist anymore,” wrote one person.
“There was once a time we respected Kanye West,” added someone else.
Kanye West later apologized to George W. Bush
Five years later, West walked back his remarks.
“I would tell George Bush, in my moment of frustration, I didn’t have the grounds to call him a racist,” West said, per The Guardian. “But I believe that in a situation of high emotion like that, we as human beings don’t always choose the right words. And that’s why I’m here.”
While Bush described this moment as an “all-time low” during his presidency, he said he appreciated West’s apology.
“I appreciate it,” Bush said. “I don’t hate Conway [sic] West.”
