Image Source: capitalxtra.com
Kanye West just released a new music video called Famous, in which a seemingly naked Taylor Swift is shown lying in bed next to Kanye West in a gigantic bed along with 11 other famous people. As the camera slowly pans over Swift’s naked “body,” which is a waxwork, Kanye sings, “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex. Why? I made that bitch famous… I made that bitch famous….” The last several minutes of the video displays a thank you to a list of the famous figures that appeared in the video, who are:
Kim Kardashian West
Bill Cosby
Caitlyn Jenner
Amber Rose
Ray J (the rapper with whom Kim Kardashian appears in that infamous sex tape)
Taylor Swift
Chris Brown
Rihanna
Donald Trump
Anna Wintour (editor of U.S. Vogue)
George Bush
The video is deliberately grainy and low resolution, which makes it difficult to discern whether the people in it are real or digitized or waxworks, and does not contain any disclaimer that the people represented in the video did not actually appear in person. An online magazine reports that Kanye spent over $750,000 for the waxwork figures, and that they took over six months to create. During the entire video, the famous “people” are depicted sleeping next to each other in bed. Only Kanye wakes up and opens his eyes at the end of the video. Is Kanye telling us that only he is enlightened?
People have described the video as “creepy,” “provocative,” “sickening,” and “like serial killer footage.” Kanye has said the video is based on a mural called “Sleep” by artist Vincent Desiderio, and is a comment on fame. What that comment is, though, is anyone’s guess.
Image Source: mtv.com
Taylor’s appearance in the video, posed right next to Kanye, is no doubt linked to their previous conflicts. Kanye and Taylor Swift’s “feud” is charted here, and most believe it began when Kanye jumped onstage at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards and interrupted Swift’s acceptance speech. Swift’s team has denied that she gave any permission to use her name in the Famous lyrics. Even the President has weighed in and called Kanye a “jackass.”
Taylor Swift, for her part, has been plastering the news with photos of her seemingly sudden, whirlwind romance with British actor Tom Hiddleston, with stops in England, Rome, a wet and splashy Fourth of July party, and now Australia. Is this a deliberate public relations tactic to avoid the Kanye provocation? Or is Taylor making her own elaborate music video?
Invasion of Privacy
If the people depicted in this video wanted to sue Kanye, they would most likely bring a claim for invasion of privacy. Under California law, there are four types of invasion of privacy:
(1) public disclosure of private facts,
(2) publicity that places a person in a false light in the public eye,
(3) intrusion on a person’s seclusion or solitude or into private affairs, and
(4) appropriation of a person’s name or likeness for the defendant’s advantage.
The two types of invasion of privacy claims that are most suitable to Kanye’s Famous video are “false light” and appropriation of likeness.
Portraying a person in a false light entails Defendant’s dissemination of information that may be false or erroneous that places plaintiff in a derogatory and false light and that would be offensive to a reasonable person.
Misappropriation of a person’s name or likeness is the unwarranted unauthorized publication of that person’s name, photograph or likeness that causes an injury. The elements of cause of action for tort of misappropriation of a person’s name or likeness are: Appropriation of a person’s name or likeness to the defendant’s advantage, commercially or otherwise, without the plaintiff’s consent and causing injury to the plaintiff.
Could Taylor Actually Recover Significant Monetary Damages for Kanye’s Video?
At first glance, it seems like all Taylor has really suffered is embarrassment. And it very quickly becomes obvious to all but the most gullible of people that Taylor did not actually appear in the video. And while the waxwork model of her body may be an inaccurate portrayal, it’s far from being a representation that “injures” her. In the long run, Kanye’s antics may even boost sympathy and support for Taylor, which could translate into more publicity, more fans, more record sales, and more concert tickets sold. It’s unlikely that any of the famous people represented in the video will sue Kanye, and none have made serious threats. It seems a lawsuit would accomplish little other than sending more publicity Kanye’s way and enriching the attorneys.
What do you think? Is this video a sign of Kanye’s deteriorating brain damage or his evolving artistic sensibilities? Is there anything such as bad publicity for people like Kanye or Taylor Swift? Is ignoring Kanye the best revenge?
What a surprise… the old white lawyers don’t understand Kanye and his artistic expression.
My question is why shouod she give any credence to the MF for childish antics yhat don’t deserve a moment of her yome and efforts not yo mention money to spend on lawyers.
Race is a distraction, color doesn’t matter , don’t be woke but wake up .
Artistic?
Taylors swifts team can deny it all they want. Kim kardashian has videos of Taylor swift saying it’s ok. Need to do some more research on the situation. Also I might say Kanye’s video was about cloning technology or how the industry and elite are basically being brainwashed to cater to the even more elite. Take brainwash however you want to. Literally or metaphorically, doesn’t matter.
The real audio tape has been released where she clear didn’t gave permission. So go n watch it before telling how we are getting brain wash. Dumb dumb.
Let me correct you, because obviously you did not do your research. Taylor had never given approval to calling her and using the word “bitch”. Watch the whole 25 minutes call that was illegally recorded without Miss Swift’s consent, you will not find Kanye mentioning anything about calling her a bitch, he only told her the lyric “I made her famous” then him and Kim edited the call, lied to the public and only showed the parts that would paint them as clean and truthful, but the call got leaked anyways and they got exposed. Now, next time, you better do your research and find reliable resources because that’s not very smart.
yeah definitely do your research because she did not say the specific lyrics used were okay… he said he would write “i made her famous” but the lyrics in the actual video were I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex and added “bitch” to “i made that bitch famous” he omitted information… believe whatever conspiracy theory nonsense you want but listen to the full phone-call first, at least
Your research is outdated. It’s been 2 years since the full phone call came out. Taylor’s team didn’t just deny it, they PROVED it wrong.
She was only okay with mentioning her name, she didn’t say, however, that he could use her NAKED DOLL in his pervert video