As expected, Kanye West’s Drink Champs interview created quite the stir.
During his two-and-a-half-hour sit-down, the polarizing multi-hyphenate spoke candidly about a wide range of topics, including his ongoing divorce from Kim Kardashian, his rocky relationship with Drake, his infamous VMAs moment with Taylor Swift, and his push back against cancel culture.
Of course, his comments were met with mixed reactions from both fans and the celebrities who were mentioned. Many of those who were name-dropped in the episode took to social media to share their feedback; some gave graceful, diplomatic statements, while others completely went off on the Donda artist.
You can revisit some of the most-talked about responses to Ye’s extensive interview below.
One of the controversial moments of the interview was when Ye expressed regret over signing Big Sean, saying it was “the worst thing I’ve ever done.”
“Nah, look, I know this man’s mama,” Kanye said told hosts N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN. “I’ve changed this man’s family. And both John Legend and Big Sean, when I ran for office, got used quick by the Democrats to come at they boy that actually changed they life and that’s some sellout shit. And I don’t rock with neither of them and I need my apologies … n**gas is scared.”
Sean addressed Ye’s comments in a series of tweets Thursday night, claiming he recently spoke to the GOOD Music boss and there were no signs of bad blood.
He also called Ye’s political comments “untrue.”
At one point during the sit-down, Kanye was asked who he considers to be his “superior”: Swizz Beatz or Just Blaze. He immediately chose the former before throwing a “copycat” allegation at Blaze.
“Just Blaze is a copycat, you know, he get credit for The Blueprint and I did the first half of The Blueprint, and he just copied my half,” he said. “Look where I’m at today and look where he at today. So that should show you … But I love you, but just know what it is.”
Judging by his response, Blaze wasn’t too hurt over the “copycat” claim.
“Respectfully, I’m happy for him and the fact that he has succeeded in the ways he wanted to, but not everyone wants to be where he is,” he wrote on Instagram. “Everyone’s definition of personal success is a bit different. I’m quite happy where I am creatively, with my family, and my life in general. We were a part of history together and I wish him well and continued success.”
Jay-Z also weighed in on the Just Blaze drama and quickly came to the producer’s defense.
“Everyone sees things through their own lens,” he explained during a Friday chat on Twitter Spaces. “Some of it could be true, and some of it may not be true, but that’s the lens that you see it through, so you’re just speaking to your truth. And I think the one thing I would say … maybe the Just Blaze thing was unfair.”
He continued: “I don’t think anyone was copying off anyone … I think everyone created for the project. The baby was The Blueprint … it’s something we should all be proud of, and everyone should be prized for their contribution … We all had the assignment and created this one body of work … Everyone is going to have a different truth.”
Drake hasn’t directly addressed Kanye’s comments about their highly publicized beef, but he did react to the interview by liking Just Blaze’s Instagram post.
Unlike Hov and Just Blaze, Soulja Boy gave a hot-tempered, expletive-filled response to Kanye’s comments.
As some you may recall, Kanye told Drink Champs that Soulja was one of the “top five most influential” acts, but said his verse for Donda’s “Remote Control” wasn’t up to par, which is why he ultimately scrapped it.
Soulja conducted a livestream shortly after, and immediately began ranting against Ye and his “trash” album.
“Don’t get on no motherfuckin’ platform and say different from what the fuck you told me to my face,” Soulja shouted. “Tell me to my face that shit was trash … Who cut your hair? Yo shit fucked up.”
He continued: “You not finna baby me, n***a, with some, ‘Soulja Boy is the future.’ Shut the fuck up. You said my verses wasn’t hard, n***a? Who the fuck you think you talkin’ to—everything that comes out my motherfuckin’ mouth is hard, n***a. What the fuck is you talkin’ about Kanye West? Yo album was trash. Yo shit wasn’t hard, n***a. Just ’cause it’s your album don’t mean you get to pick what’s hard. Put it out and let the people decide … That shit was trash. I ain’t even heard the album yet. All my n***as said yo shit was trash.”
This response didn’t come directly from the source.
During several parts of the interview, Ye made it a point to refer to Kim Kardashian as his “wife,” reminding listeners they were still legally married. Though Kardashian filed for divorce back in February, Ye claimed he has never seen divorce papers, and expressed his desire to get back with the mother of his children.
“We’re not even divorced … [It’s] no joke to me,” he said. “My kids want their parents to stay together. I want their parents — I want us to be together.”
Kardashian has yet to publicly respond to the interview; however, an insider said the reality TV star was “not surprised” by her estranged husband’s comments.
“She knows he has his feelings and doesn’t hold back on sharing them,” a source told E! News. “Kanye has made it very clear he doesn’t want to get divorced and wants her to reconsider … Kanye is still hoping Kim changes her mind but she’s not interested in getting back together.”
