John Legend and Kanye West have a long and storied history together, but the past few years have seen their careers go in diametrically opposite directions — former pseudo-bad boy Legend has become the human embodiment of a Hallmark card, while perennial shit-stirrer Kanye has taken a darker turn toward right-wing politics and a never-ending stream of often-disturbing controversy.
So, it makes sense that the two aren't that close anymore, with Legend distancing himself from Kanye's orbit. Neither party have ever really laid out what exactly happened between them — though it's kinda self-explanatory — but now Legend has opened up about the breakdown in a new interview on The Axe Files podcast.
Speaking to host David Axelrod (who was formerly senior advisor to President Barack Obama), Legend explained that he — like many did — disagreed with West's presidential run and his support of Donald Trump.
After being asked whether Kanye's political moves affected Legend's relationship with him, Legend replied:
Well, you know, we aren't friends as much as we used to be because I honestly think because we publicly disagreed on his running for office, his supporting Trump, I think it became, uh, too much for us to sustain our friendship, honestly. He was upset that I didn't support his run for presidency of the United States of America for understandable reasons.
"I wasn't alone in that, but, you know, he was not happy about that," Legend continued. "And we really haven't been close since then."
When asked what people "don't understand" about West, Legend answered, "Well, I think people get a lot about him. I think he's been very open with who he is and his struggles with mental health and he's very real, honestly."
"I think there's not a lot about him that people don't get, like he's been pretty upfront with his opinions, his struggles, all the things that he's dealing with," Legend added. "And I think what you see with him is pretty much what you get. I don't feel like he's a whole separate person in private than he is in public. I think you're pretty much seeing the real Kanye publicly."
So, it makes sense that the two aren't that close anymore, with Legend distancing himself from Kanye's orbit. Neither party have ever really laid out what exactly happened between them — though it's kinda self-explanatory — but now Legend has opened up about the breakdown in a new interview on The Axe Files podcast.
Speaking to host David Axelrod (who was formerly senior advisor to President Barack Obama), Legend explained that he — like many did — disagreed with West's presidential run and his support of Donald Trump.
After being asked whether Kanye's political moves affected Legend's relationship with him, Legend replied:
Well, you know, we aren't friends as much as we used to be because I honestly think because we publicly disagreed on his running for office, his supporting Trump, I think it became, uh, too much for us to sustain our friendship, honestly. He was upset that I didn't support his run for presidency of the United States of America for understandable reasons.
"I wasn't alone in that, but, you know, he was not happy about that," Legend continued. "And we really haven't been close since then."
When asked what people "don't understand" about West, Legend answered, "Well, I think people get a lot about him. I think he's been very open with who he is and his struggles with mental health and he's very real, honestly."
"I think there's not a lot about him that people don't get, like he's been pretty upfront with his opinions, his struggles, all the things that he's dealing with," Legend added. "And I think what you see with him is pretty much what you get. I don't feel like he's a whole separate person in private than he is in public. I think you're pretty much seeing the real Kanye publicly."
