Teyana Taylor on Kanye West: holding space for loyalty without endorsement
In an era where public opinion can shift overnight, staying loyal to someone who has sparked controversy is a rare and often misunderstood act. For actress and singer Teyana Taylor, the challenge is deeply personal: navigating her longstanding friendship with Kanye West—now Ye—while maintaining her own values.
Taylor, fresh off a Golden Globe win for her role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, spoke candidly to Vanity Fair, offering a rare glimpse into a friendship tested by fame, controversy, and moral boundaries.
Loyalty with limits
“I don’t have to agree with everything he does or says, but I’m not going to abandon him and be like, ‘Yeah, eff that motherf***er,’” Taylor said. She compared Ye to a brother—someone whose missteps she may not condone, but whose humanity she refuses to dismiss.
Her words resonate beyond celebrity gossip. They highlight the delicate balance between accountability and compassion, a tension many of us face in personal relationships: how do you love someone whose actions hurt others without enabling them?
A creative bond that spans years
Taylor’s connection to Ye isn’t just personal—it’s professional and deeply creative. Her 2016 appearance in his Fade video catapulted her into the spotlight, showcasing her artistry and physicality. She also contributed to his My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album and worked closely with him on her 2018 album K.T.S.E., which he produced.
Yet as Ye’s public persona unraveled, marked by antisemitic remarks, political stunts, and controversial public appearances, many collaborators and corporate partners distanced themselves. Adidas, Balenciaga, and Universal Music Group all severed ties. Taylor’s choice to remain connected reflects a deliberate distinction between personal loyalty and endorsement.
Walking the line
Ye’s behaviour—wearing “White Lives Matter” shirts, aligning with far-right figures, and spreading conspiracy theories—has made him a polarising figure globally. For most, such actions are disqualifying. But Taylor frames her loyalty as emotional presence, not agreement.
She refuses to reduce him to his worst actions, making a subtle but profound statement: accountability doesn’t always look public and dramatic—it can be quiet, principled, and private. In a culture fueled by outrage, her stance challenges the idea that relationships are disposable once someone crosses a moral line.
Lessons beyond celebrity
Taylor’s approach reflects a universal truth: healthy relationships require boundaries without erasing humanity. Psychologists note that total rejection can entrench harmful patterns, while unchecked loyalty can enable them. Taylor chooses a middle path: she steps back from Ye’s controversies, does not cosign his rhetoric, yet refuses to abandon him entirely.
“I don’t get into none of that,” she said. For Taylor, love and accountability coexist—not in opposition, but in tension.
Her words remind us that navigating loyalty isn’t about perfection—it’s about holding space responsibly, recognizing when to step back, and understanding that silence or absence can be a form of accountability in itself.
Quietly revolutionary
In a world that rewards extremes, Taylor’s stance is quietly radical. She demonstrates that you can maintain boundaries, demand accountability, and still honour shared history and humanity. Her friendship with Ye becomes more than a celebrity headline; it’s a case study in emotional intelligence, resilience, and the art of nuanced human connection.
In the end, Teyana Taylor’s lesson is simple but profound: you can reject harmful behaviour without rejecting the person entirely, and loyalty doesn’t have to mean agreement.
Source: IOL
Featured Image: X{@Complex}
