John Legend talks Kanye West's fall from grace

Singer reflects on politics, pain and shared past

John Legend is reflecting on what he calls the "descent" of his former friend and collaborator Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. In a candid interview with The Times published on Saturday, the EGOT-winning singer opened up about the painful shift in Kanye's personality and politics over the years.

"Back then Kanye was very passionate, very gifted, and he had big dreams not only for himself but also for all the people around him," Legend said, recalling the early 2000s when their creative partnership blossomed. Kanye played a pivotal role in launching Legend's career, featuring him on 2004's The College Dropout and later signing him to G.O.O.D. Music.

That early bond, though once defined by artistic synergy and mutual admiration, began to fray as Kanye moved deeper into public controversy. Their relationship suffered after Ye's vocal support for Donald Trump in 2016 and ultimately broke down during his 2020 presidential run. But for Legend, what's most painful isn't the political disagreement, but watching someone he once admired become a purveyor of hate.

"I didn't see a hint of what we're seeing now," Legend said. "His obsessions with antisemitism, anti-blackness; it is sad to see his devolution."

Ye has drawn widespread condemnation in recent years for antisemitic comments and inflammatory online behaviour. In 2022, he praised Adolf Hitler in interviews, tweeted a swastika merged with a Star of David, and said, "I like Hitler" on far-right conspiracy theory outlet Infowars, resulting in multiple platform bans. Most recently, he claimed his new single, Hitler, was banned from all digital platforms. He's also shown public support for embattled figures like Diddy, who is currently facing sex trafficking charges.

Legend is clear that he's not here to psychoanalyse his former friend, but he does suspect a key turning point: the death of Kanye's mother, Donda, in 2007. "His descent started then and seems to have accelerated recently," he said.

Still, Legend hasn't forgotten Ye's early influence. "Kanye blew up after producing Jay-Z's The Blueprint in 2001," he recalled. "Then The College Dropout sold 400,000 copies in its first week, suddenly everyone wanted to know who I was."

Now, though, that shared origin story is shadowed by what Legend sees as a tragic unravelling. "It does feel sad, sometimes shocking, to see where he is now," he said.