Last night, Kanye West hosted a characteristically bombastic event at The Forum in Los Angeles to debut the video for The Life of Pablo single “Famous”. The event’s grandeur was only topped by the video itself, which West produced specifically to stoke conversation and controversy.
The track’s video begins with film of a sunset, eventually transitioning into grainy, home-movie like shots of unclear human-shaped figures. The figures are eventually revealed and in traditional Kanye fashion, they provoke shock. Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Amber Rose, Donald Trump, Caitlyn Jenner, Bill Cosby, Ray J, Chris Brown, Anna Wintour, and George Bush are all featured lying naked together in bed. West arranged his (likely) wax figures in pattern inspired by the painting Sleep by contemporary American realist Vincent Desiderio.
West initially delayed the video premiere so attending fans could purchase album merchandise. He then proceeded to play the video twice in row. Afterword, he spoke on the video’s creation and its inspiration.
“It’s not in support or anti any of [the people in the video],” West said. “It’s a comment on fame.” He also noted that he had Kim’s approval: “[I say] a lot of lines other wives would not allow a husband to say, but my wife also puts up photos that other husbands wouldn’t let them put up.” He also apparently previewed the video for celebrity friends who didn’t appear in the bed. “They want to be in the bed,” he said of their reactions.”
For those who could not attend the spectacle live, West streamed the event through Tidal. He later streamed the visuals through Twitter for those who could not access Tidal.
West has announced the Saint Pablo tour to accompany The Life of Pablo. He also recently updated his ever-changing album, adding a track entitled “Saint Pablo” to the album on streaming services.
Updated (06/29/16)
Earlier this week, West screened the “Famous” video at locations throughout New York. He announced the location and time of these events through Twitter.
West’s full, unedited video is still currently a Tidal exclusive, although a censored version has aired on E!
The same day as the screenings, actress Lena Dunham published an essay referring to West’s “Famous” video as “disturbing” and “sickening” After West’s initial Los Angeles screenings, he tweeted and subsequently deleted a tweet that read “can somebody sue me already.”
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