Kanye West followed up his controversial appearance on the Grammys red carpet by calling out Don Lemon for allegedly starting a rumor that he and his wife were then escorted out of the ceremony Sunday (Feb. 2) evening because of the stunt.
In a since-deleted post on Instagram, the rapper called Lemon a “goofball” and hurled a racial slur at the former CNN anchor, claiming Lemon “started the rumor that me and my wife got kicked out of the Grammies [sic],” per The Cut.
Lemon wasted no time at all in responding to West’s post.
In a video addressed directly to the rapper, Lemon said, “First of all, Kanye … Ye, whatever your name is. I did not start a rumor about you being kicked out of the Grammys. I actually corrected it. I saw someone on your team who asked me to correct it because it had been reported everywhere.”
He then added, “Get your shit straight,” before hurling the racial slur back at West with a laugh. “That ‘Make America Great Again’ hat must be too tight on your head.”
Lemon had publicly denied the mounting reports and rumors that West was escorted out of the awards ceremony after he and his wife made their red carpet appearance.
“We saw a spokesperson for Kanye and that spokesperson said Kanye was indeed invited, they said that’s a fact, and that he was not kicked out. That is what they are saying on Kanye’s side,” Lemon clarified that evening, per The New York Post.
Entertainment Tonight was the first to report that the couple “showed up… uninvited with an entourage of about five people and were escorted out,” The New York Post also reported.
ET later walked back the report, noting Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. confirmed Ye was invited, but he was only interested in walking the red carpet and leaving.
West’s collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign, “Carnival”, was nominated that evening for Best Rap Song, though the single lost to Kendrick Lamar’s rap battle anthem “Not Like Us.”
