Kanye West unveils risque ‘Famous’ video featuring naked celebrities, tweets he is ready to be sued
A shaky camera lingers on a row of sleeping figures sprawled on a very large bed: Billy Cosby, Caitlyn Jenner, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Donald Trump and even President George W. Bush — breasts and rumps exposed. Nestled into the middle of what appears to be this post-orgy pile is none other than Kanye West, accompanied by his wife, Kim Kardashian West.
Welcome to the latest Kanye West extravaganza — which touches on a something the artist knows a thing or two about: Fame.
See more of our top Entertainment stories on Facebook »
The video for his single “Famous” was unveiled on Friday night at a promotional event at the Forum in Inglewood, and is now available for viewing exclusively on the streaming service, Tidal. Rolling Stone also has a snippet, shot by a fan at the Forum — but be forewarned: It’s totally NSFW.
In addition to Kanye, the scene — which was inspired by the American painter Vincent Desiderio’s canvas “Sleep” — features 11 famous people who have had good, bad and ugly relationships with the singer over the years.
Cosby is shown snoozing next to Jenner who lies next to West’s ex-girlfriend, Amber Rose, who is sprawled out next to singer Ray J. Vogue magazine editor Anna Wintour is seen nestled between Trump and Bush — the latter of whom West famously criticized on national television in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Rihanna, who duets with West on the song, is shown lying next to her ex, rapper Chris Brown. And Swift sleeps peacefully next to Kanye himself. Which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, since the song’s lyrics reference her directly: “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / I made that bitch famous.”
“It’s not in support or anti any of [the people in the video],” West told Vanity Fair in advance of the the video’s release. “It’s a comment on fame.”
Of including figures such as Bush, he told the magazine: “Maybe in some alternative universe me and George Bush could have been friends. I could have been his O.J. Simpson black friend on the golf course.”
It’s unclear which of the figures in the video might be crafted out of prosthetics (some of the individuals, such as Swift, Bush and Cosby, have plasticky sheens), and which might be real — but that doesn’t mean the internet isn’t trying to figure it out.
Trump’s representatives have already stated that the candidate wasn’t involved. Likewise, an aid for former President Bush told Us Weekly, “That’s not him.”
And, on Instagram, Brown wrote: “Why I gotta have the plumbers butt/ crack showing WAX figure?” (Note: Brown’s post shows the nude figures as seen in the video.)
At press time, Swift had yet to issue an official statement. But someone who reportedly knows the star told HollywoodLife.com: “Taylor is livid. Taylor is horrified [by the ‘Famous’ music video]. Taylor didn’t know what to do when she heard about what Kanye did.”
West, as usual, is undaunted. On Saturday morning, he Tweeted: “Can somebody sue me already #I’llwait.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
ALSO
‘Brexit’ vote sparks ‘grieving’ in Britain’s film and TV industries
George Lucas abandons Chicago, will build new museum in California
‘Independence Day: Resurgence’ is both impossible to take seriously or seriously dislike
Find me on Twitter @cmonstah.
The biggest entertainment stories
Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
