Kanye West to "Take Some Time Off" After Taylor Swift Diss

"I'm ashamed that my hurt caused someone else's hurt," he says on the premiere of The Jay Leno Show

By Natalie Finn Sep 15, 2009 3:02 AMTags

Look at Jay Leno, already getting the big apologetic celeb of the hour on his first night in prime-time.

Musical guest Kanye West decided shortly before showtime to sit down with Jay on the premiere of NBC's The Jay Leno Show and apologize for a third time for his bizarre behavior toward Taylor Swift at last night's MTV Video Music Awards.

"Dealing with the fact that I hurt someone or took anything away, you know, from a talented artist—or from anyone—because I only wanted to help people," West told Leno, who's now conducting his interviews chair-to-chair, rather than from behind a desk.

"My entire life, I've only wanted to do and give something that I felt was right and I immediately knew in this situation that it was wrong," the rapper said.

"It's actually someone's emotions that I stepped on. It was rude, period. I'd like to apologize to her in person."

But it was when Jay asked what Kanye's late mother would have thought about the situation when the 808s & Heartbreak artist almost lost it.

"You know, obviously, I deal with hurt and, you know, so many celebrities, they never take the time off," West responded following a long pause. "And I've never taken the time off, just music and music and tour after tour, and I'm ashamed that my hurt caused someone else's hurt."

So, West continued, " After this, I need to just take some time off and analyze how I'm going to make it through the rest of this life, how I'm going to improve, because I am a celebrity and that's just something I'm going to have to deal with."

"If there's anything I can do to help Taylor in the future, or help anyone, I want to...It's hard sometimes, you know?"

Then, although he looked pretty beaten down by then, he donned a pair of shades and joined Rihanna, in what was her first TV performance since the Chris Brown incident, and Jay-Z onstage for "Run This Town."

Speaking of running this town, Leno strode into prime-time much as he left late-night: With a monologue, a few sketches, a couple of celebrity guests, and "Headlines."

"Jay and I have been very close  friends for many years, but the truth is, when I heard that I was going to be asked to be the first guest, I was slightly disappointed that you couldn't get a bigger name," teased Jerry Seinfeld, clad in a tuxedo in honor of the occasion. "Is your staff aware that I have not been on television for 11 years?"

Seinfeld said that he had heard the Jay Leno Show had tried to get Oprah Winfrey as the premiere guest, and Leno admitted that they had tried and failed.

"I know Oprah," Seinfeld offered. "I could get Oprah."

Justin Lubin/NBC

And then there she was, beaming into the studio via a video screen, ostensibly only to talk to her pal Jerry.

"I have to go, I'm on that new Jay Leno show," Seinfeld told her, after she had talked about her summer vacation and the new season of her talk show.

"Really? What time is that on?" Oprah inquired.

"I don't know," Seinfeld said thoughtfully. "I think it's on after the Today show. NBC is just pulling out all the stops."

Funny stuff.

So, if you liked The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, you'll probably like The Jay Leno Show just fine.

Just as, if you liked Kanye West before he made a complete ass of himself last night, you'll probably still buy his next album.

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In case you didn't see it before, check out Kanye West's VMA nonsense right here.

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