April 10, 2025: In a fresh wave of controversy, Kanye West has taken to social media to blame pop star Taylor Swift as one of the reasons he has never been invited to headline the Super Bowl halftime show.
In a now-deleted Instagram post, the rapper and fashion mogul listed three moments he claims have led to his exclusion from one of the most coveted performance stages in the world: his infamous “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people” remark during a 2005 Hurricane Katrina telethon, his longtime feud with Swift, and his support of former President Donald Trump, symbolized by his wearing of a MAGA hat.
“I never was allowed to do the Super Bowl because of three moments,” West wrote, according to Page Six. “George Bush don’t care about Black people. The Taylor Swift movement moment. Wearing a MAGA hat.”
West and Swift’s tumultuous history dates back to the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, when West infamously stormed the stage during Swift’s acceptance speech to proclaim that Beyoncé had one of the “best videos of all time.” Their feud resurfaced in 2016 after West released the song Famous, which included controversial lyrics about Swift—lyrics she later said were used without her permission.
The tension between the two reignited yet again in February 2025, when West criticized Swift for dancing to Kendrick Lamar’s performance at the Grammy Awards. His comments sparked a backlash from Swift’s fanbase and added fuel to their already years-long public conflict.
While West has performed at a pre-Super Bowl concert in 2015 alongside Rihanna, he has never taken the main stage during the halftime show. According to sources cited by Page Six, Jay-Z—who has a partnership with the NFL and significant input in selecting halftime performers—may have influenced West’s absence from the event.
West’s recent claims come amid continued fallout from his controversial public persona, including his past antisemitic comments and expressions of support for extremist ideologies. His statements in 2022, including a tweet about “going death con 3 on Jewish people,” prompted widespread condemnation and the loss of several brand partnerships. Though he later apologized, West continued to make incendiary remarks that further tarnished his reputation.
While neither the NFL nor Taylor Swift has publicly commented on West’s recent post, the rapper’s remarks have once again sparked debate—and renewed focus—on his relationship with the music industry, the media, and the public.