John Legend on Kanye West: 'The World Needs Him'

John Legend gives his take on Kanye West's recent hospitalization and says 'the world needs him.'

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Complex Original

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John Legend didn't have the most positive things to say about Kanye West's meeting with Donald Trump, but the singer is confirms in a new interview with Rolling Stone that "the world needs him."

"This is a very difficult life and a difficult business. I don't want to try to play pop psychologist, so I'm not gonna try to analyze what's happening with him," John responded when questioned about Kanye's recent hospitalization. "I just want him to do whatever he needs to do to feel better and to feel like he's ready to go again, because music needs him. The world needs him. I think he's such an important talent. We need him at full strength. How do you balance everything you do—acting, producing, music, fatherhood?"

John's opinion? You "start with knowing what's most important to you. My family is most important and then second is music." He goes on to admit that his star power as a musician is what has enabled him to do other things in his life, but also emphasizes that it is important to use that celebrity "for something that'll benefit the world too."

Many will remember just a couple of weeks ago when Kanye showed up at Trump Tower for a meeting with the President-Elect. In turn, John had some strong words about the whole thing and called the encounter a "publicity stunt."

You can read John Legend's full Rolling Stone interview where he also discusses Trump's win, the roles of artists in the Trump era, and more right here.

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