John Legend has acknowledged that he regrets collaborating with Kanye West, despite the eventual deterioration of their relationship.
In an interview on Ebro in the Morning, Legend responded to recent comments West made about his scent.
He said: “He was very obsessed with the sweaters, and he said I smell like mashed potatoes. What kind of potatoes? Cheesy, garlic? … All of it makes me sad, though. All of it does. And it’s not for me, because obviously, I smell great.”
Legend, a former artist on GOOD Music, elaborated: “It never affects me personally, but just the whole story is sad. Like, seeing this guy praise Hitler, seeing this guy be this force of hate and just vitriol and nastiness. Somebody who has made some of the great art of this century as an artist, as a performer, as a fashion designer, all of the things that he’s done to make the world more beautiful and interesting and then for him to be this now, it’s sad.”
Legend also looked back on the time they began working together two decades ago: “He was full of so much energy and creativity and optimism and we really believed that we were starting a new movement in music, and being a part of that was inspiring.
“It was truly inspiring. That’s why it’s sad now because we did amazing things together as a collective, as a movement. Just think about all the amazing music that came from it. The G.O.O.D. Fridays, all the things that happen during the first 10 years of his career, just thrilling and to be part of that was amazing. I have no regrets. Even though he’s gone completely left now, I’m so glad that we did what we did together.”
This comes after earlier statements by Legend regarding West’s stance on race.
The “Green Light” artist said: “He had so much optimism, so much creativity… I didn’t see a hint of what we’re seeing now, his obsessions with antisemitism, anti-Blackness, and it is sad to see his devolution.”
Legend also mentioned that West seemed to change following the death of his mother in 2007: “I don’t think we’re qualified to psychoanalyse him, but after his mother passed in 2007, there was definitely a difference. His descent started then and seems to have accelerated recently.”
