Mike Myers "Super Proud" of Kanye West's "George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People" Rant

Austin Powers star tells GQ rapper "somebody spoke truth to power at a time when somebody needed to speak"

By Rebecca Macatee May 21, 2014 6:18 PMTags
Mike Myers, Kanye WestNBC

Kanye West has never been one to stick to the script, but one of his most memorable off-teleprompter rants happened during a 2005 telethon raising money for Hurricane Katrina victims.

Mike Myers stood beside the rapper, looking visibly uncomfortable, as Kanye vented about racism in the media before declaring, "George Bush doesn't care about black people."

Now, nearly nine years after 'Ye's infamous outburst, Myers is reflecting on the moment, telling GQ's June issue, "But for me, it isn't about the look of embarrassment on my face, it is truly about the injustice that was happening in New Orleans."

"To have the emphasis on the look on my face," he says, "versus the fact that somebody spoke truth to power at a time when somebody needed to speak? I'm, like, super proud to have been next to him."

Kanye, however, wasn't proud of all the things he said. Initially, he offered an apology, explaining on Today that "in my moment of frustration, I didn't have the grounds to call him a racist," saying, "we as human beings don't always choose the right words."

Flash forward to 2010, though, and George W. released a memoir, Decision Points, citing Kanye's later-retracted racial accusation as one of the lowest moments in his presidency.

Kanye responded to this in an interview with Today's Matt Lauer, saying he "empathized" with W. "His take, his explanation—I completely agree with," he said. "In a moment of emotion, to peg someone as a racist, it's just not right."

Things took a more heated turn as 'Ye was pressed on the topic, but as he explained then, "Even in these times, when I was considered to have done something so wrong, my motivation was in a good place."

It always is with Yeezy! In any case, let's let bygones be bygones. After all, there's lots of celebrating to do with a Kimye wedding on the horizon!