Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were engaged in a public feud that began in 2009 and continued throughout the years. The feud originated when Swift won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video and was interrupted on stage by Kanye West, who controversially advocated for Beyoncé to be awarded instead. Swift then released the track “Innocent,” West released the song “Famous,” Kardashian leaked a conversation between her and Swift, and Swift released an album. As Time magazine described it in Swift’s Person of the Year cover story, the moment went on to have a significant impact on both artist’s careers.

Swift was named Person of the Year by the magazine’s editors in 2023 and spoke about the feud with journalist Sam Lansky. “I had all the hyenas climb on and take their shots. You have a fully manufactured frame job, in an illegally recorded phone call, which Kim Kardashian edited and then put out to say to everyone that I was a liar,” she said. The incident threw Swift into psychological distress that led her to move to a new country and become reclusive for a year, as she was frightened to engage in phone calls and pushed people away in her life.

The feud, which began with West interrupting Swift at the VMAs, was a significant news event. It continued for several years and involved public remarks and leaked communication between the artists. The feud initially appeared to be resolved in 2015, However, West released a song in 2016 that appeared to reignite the conflict. The feud reached a new low point in 2016 with a controversy over a conversation, which Kardashian claimed proved that Swift approved lyrics to West’s controversial song. This video was uploaded to social media and went viral, causing a wave of backlash against Swift.

Despite the feud, which has since been resolved, Swift’s impact on the music industry and the world is undeniable. The feud propelled Swift to become the 2023 Person of the Year, a testament to her enduring influence and presence in the music industry.