Kanye West has revealed that his negative experiences with paparazzi are why he started taking medication.
The Chicago rap mogul, who has laid relatively low in recent weeks after being a lightning rod for controversy last year, made the revelation during an eventful encounter with a cameraman on Tuesday (January 24).
Ye was leaving a tanning salon in Los Angeles with his new wife, Yeezy architect Bianca Censori, when a paparazzo began filming them. After spotting him, West walked over to the pap and told him to stop recording because he finds it “antagonistic.”
The cameraman pleaded with Kanye by telling him he “just need[s] this one shot,” to which Ye replied: “No, you got the shot, but I’m saying…You don’t even know! You just jump up on people like this.”
Kanye then let his guard down somewhat and opened up to the cameraman about his long-running issues with paparazzi, admitting they’re what led to him being prescribed medication.
“Do you know the first time I ever took medication, why it was? Because I got mad at paparazzi,” he explained. “You know which paparazzi it was? The same one that shot Britney [Spears]. My dad did photography for newspapers. It has to be some kind of balance, some kind of conversation.”
He added: “I can’t live in California in my life like I’m some type of caged animal to be judged in front of glass.”
After asking the cameraman who he works for, to which he replied by saying he’s “independent” but provides content to “the media,” Kanye called for celebrities to be compensated for the images paparazzi take of them.
“The media doesn’t have a right to like, boom, pop up. We ain’t have no idea. And then I have no say-so over the shot,” he said. “Y’all find where we’re at, y’all take this photo — what percentage of the money do we get off of the photos?
“None of them. For years and years…I need to find out all the information on how it actually works so if I just want to go and drive around and not have to worry about paparazzi, I do it.”
Yeezy also touched on his past stints in anger management, saying: “At this point, I’ve served too many years in the game, I’ve been to anger management — I’m not in that life no more…But when you get all the images and stuff, it’s like… it doesn’t work for me.”
He added: “It’s not right, and just because it’s been like that for a long time, don’t mean that it’s gonna be like that.”
The conversation became even more tense when the cameraman admitted that while the ethics behind his line of work are open to debate, “in the state of California, it is right.”
“Nah, it ain’t in the state of California,” Kanye snapped. “You were like, ‘I stopped,’ but you already took the photo.”
Ye then moved closer to the cameraman while threatening to snatch his camera. “My image ain’t up to y’all no more. If I take your camera, is it up to me then? You wanna erase the photos?” he asked.
“No, I need them,” the pap replied, to which Kanye responded by asking him if he owns the rights to the pictures. “Actually, I do have the right to the photos,” he answered.
Stepping even closer to the cameraman, Kanye said: “So what happens if I take your camera right now?”
“I would not like that. Please don’t do this. I walk away, and we’re all good,” the pap replied uncomfortably as he began to retreat.
“Oh, but would I like it? Do I like that y’all doing that to me all the time?” Ye barked while walking back to his car. “Let all the paparazzi know, it’s up!”
As one of the most recognizable faces on the planet, Kanye West has had a long and contentious history with paparazzi. Perhaps his most famous brush came in 2013 when he got into a scuffle with a cameraman outside Los Angeles International Airport.
Footage of the altercation showed Ye wrestling with the photographer, Daniel Ramos, as he tried to take his camera out of his hands. The rapper had asked Ramos to leave him alone, but his request was ignored.
The G.O.O.D. Music founder was charged with a misdemeanour count of battery and was sentenced to two years’ probation, along with anger management and community service, after entering a no contest plea.
Ramos also sued Kanye for assault, battery, negligence and interference with his civil rights, claiming he injured his right hip in the melee. The suit was settled shortly before it was due to go to trial.
If only there was some way to attract less attention to himself….
Why dont celebrities unleash their fandoms on the paparazzi ? They could dox these guys. And instead of wasting time on twitter and Instagram defending their idols against trolls, they can be on deck at events to harass these cameraman. They can form a human wall around the celebrities. They can troll them with air horns. Why not use cancel culture for something worthwhile and cancel the paparazzi ? Make them too scared to continue their line of work.
1hunna. I also wonder though, how would Ye react if I met him in the street and asked for a picture (because I would). I wonder if he have the same attitude for fans as he have for those leeches. He looks tired.
Ye’dolf
Ye, Hitler acolyte, would like people to treat each other with respect and empathy.
look at me when i want you too, dont when i dont it sucs but dont go out in public then buy an island vanish
Ridiculous, when he wasn’t famous he was dying for the money and attention and now he thinks he can just turn it off like a switch and everyone will leave him alone, doesn’t work that way this is the life he wanted and chose so stop bitching about it, I feel no sympathy for those dumb ass celebrities while living lives of luxury
I just read all the comments and I’m so glad I don’t know them in real life. And he’s another fact, your dream girl, the girl you like next door, the girl you have a crush on at work, that hot girl your best friend is friend zoned with, me and everybody else with taste would 100% rather spend a month with Kanye Learning his lifestyle and personality then to spend 5 minutes with you weirdos in your moms basement. Facts. Keep commenting away
Paparazzi shit should be illegal. Or at least let them get met with violence. These people should have free reign to smash them right in the face.
You fools acting like these wrap faggits actually be the victim how? Grown ass man child acting like his life ain’t privileged and shit. He does what he loves for a living that’s a luxury and he gets paid for being himself (a spoilt man bitch) Getting paid for flicks is what endorsement deals are for and as an entertainer he cleary chose the fame and infamy and the consequences when he started his career…