Kanye West had previously accused John Legend of smelling like “mashed potatoes,” and the latter recently had the opportunity to address it. Legend made an appearance in the latest segment of New York City’s radio station, Hot 97, responding to West’s jibe. The “All of Me” hitmaker suggested that the real issue with West ran much deeper. Reflecting on Ye’s disturbing tweets and political comments, Legend said he pitied the path the rapper has taken.
John Legend felt him and Kanye West ‘started a new movement in music’
Talking about pregnancy, politics, and everything in between, John Legend remarked on Kanye West’s tweet and statements, calling the rapper a “force of hate.” Legend appeared on Hot 97’s “Enro in the Morning” episode, which aired on July 1. The R&B singer recounted how West’s obsession with his fashion choices became personal. When the host asked his opinion on West’s comments, Legend recalled being accused of smelling like “mashed potatoes.”
“He was very obsessed with me wearing sweaters,” recalled Legend, adding, “He said I smelled like mashed potatoes.” He wryly considered with humor, “What kind of potatoes? Cheesy, garlic?” The host pressed further, asking if West’s comments affected him. Legend explained that he only felt sad for West, stating, “All of it makes me sad.” He added, “Not for me, cause obviously, I smell great… But the whole story is sad.”
For Legend, West was someone “full of so much energy and creativity and optimism,” but has now become “a force of hate and vitriol and nastiness.” The Grammy-winning singer remarked on West’s controversial public statements and tweets, remembering him as a stark contrast to the man he once knew. Legend called West “somebody who has made some of the great art of this century, like as an artist, as a performer, as a fashion designer.”
He recalled how the two artists thought they were “starting a new movement in music,” and to be part of that process was “inspiring.” Through the years of their friendship, West’s political views never came up in their conversations. Legend stated, “I have friends I talk about politics with all the time. He was never one of them.”
Despite West’s “mashed potatoes” comment and troubling tweets, Legend confessed he had “no regrets” about their shared history. He asserted he enjoyed collaborating with him, but did not sugarcoat his disappointment with West.
Originally reported by Ishika Mishra on Reality Tea.
