Oh Kanye......

Happy Monday!

I woke up this morning and after meditating, I did my ‘internet run’ *

* Yes you read correctly, I meditate! It has a calming effect, I’d be unbearable if I didn’t.

My internet run consists of reading my favourite newspapers (The Guardian, The Times, The Independent (don’t laugh!), The NY Times), checking my favourite blogs, checking/responding/deleting emails and then for the grand finale I log onto Farcebook.

Today my Facebook homepage was unusually busy and my news feed was clogged up with the same clip of Mr Kanye West behaving like a complete and utter idiot.

For those of you that haven’t seen it, click here.

Inevitably I’ve had numerous discussions about the latest addition to the ‘Kanye Omari West acting like a ignoramus’ archive. These discussions have ranged from hilarious (and very un-PC) BBM exchanges to a Facebook status that has sparked a debate which has bled into my inbox

So what’s my opinion?

I’m a cynic. So if I’m completely honest, I think the stunt was (partly) engineered. I don’t think Taylor Swift or Beyonce’s people had anything to do with it but I think someone connected to Kanye probably encouraged (an already inebriated) Mr West. It’s the music industry, 90% of what’s projected is a carefully scripted creation.

On the other hand the culprit was Kanye West. A man who once compared himself to a deity. Therefore I wouldn’t be surprised if it was engineered solely by Kanye West and his accomplice was his ever-expanding ego.

Sidebar: I am (still) a Kanye West fan. I’m a fan of his art and work-ethic. But I am not a fan of his antics.

Regardless, whether the debacle was engineered or occurred by chance Kanye clearly has a few issues. As chronicled in his (genius but unfortunately auto tune riddled) album 808’s and Heartbreak, in a brief time period Kanye lost the love of his life and his mother died. I don’t believe those events were the cause of his most recent outburst. The public justly believed Kanye was a megalomaniac with no self-control mechanism long before his annus horribilis. If anything his recent personal tragedies only compounded his pre-existing issues and tendency for acting a fool in the name of being passionate about his art.

So I’m sure we’ll agree when I again state that Kanye has a few issues. However as good friend of mine likes to say ‘Please! Everyone’s got issues’. And I agree.

We’ve all got issues and some people’s issues are bigger than others. However the bottom line is using 'issues' or tragedy as a justification for idiocy and mistakes that damage other people has an expiry date. There comes a point in one’s adult life when we have to divorce ourselves from the pain of past, transform our negative experiences into positive lessons, stop making other’s culpable for our behaviour and become personally accountable for our actions.

My parents often complain that people in the West are so coddled and infantilised they think their ‘trivial issues’ are problems and we live in a society where people are so individualistic inconsequential occurrences are blown out of proportion.

Sidebar: If you ever need a reality check about your ‘issues’ (I need them daily!) speak to someone that has survived near-starvation during a civil war and witnessed their loved ones being raped and murdered. It puts it all in perspective.

So Kanye! Get some therapy, put your ego in check and realise you’re only where you are because your fans put you there. So start showing some humility, grace and gratitude!

Anyway!

I guess we can learn all learn a broader lesson from the events at last night’s VMA’s.

Lesson: If you’re ever confronted with a result you’re displeased with ask yourself ‘What Would Kanye Do?’ Then do the exact opposite.

Peace, Love and A Minor.