John Legend broke his silence this week about Kanye West’s bizarre mashed-potatoes insult. The singer-songwriter appeared on Hot 97’s “Ebro in the Morning” to address comments West made earlier this year. West, who had been wearing a Ku Klux Klan‑style outfit during a March interview, had said Legend “smells like mashed potatoes” and mocked his sweater.
Legend responded with humor. “He was very obsessed with me wearing sweaters,” he explained. He then joked, “What kind of potatoes? Cheesy, garlic!” When asked if the remark offended him, the 46‑year‑old laughed: “Not for me…because obviously, I smell great.” The host confirmed, “You smell fantastic.”
But the humor faded quickly. Legend said, “All of it makes me sad. All of it.” He expressed heartbreak over West’s recent fall from grace. “Seeing this guy praise Hitler…seeing this force of hate and vitriol and nastiness… somebody who has made some of the great art of this century… for him to be this now is sad.”
Legend recounted that political views never came up between them during their collaboration years. “I never saw this side of him that was obsessed with Hitler… He just never talked about it in conversation,” he reflected.
A Friendship and Creative Partnership Lost
Legend and West share a creative history. Legend signed to West’s G.O.O.D. Music label in the early 2000s. Together, they made hits like “All of Me” and worked on several collaborative tracks. Legend remembered their early time fondly: “We really believed we were starting a new movement in music… being a part of that was inspiring. It was thrilling.”
He emphasized he has no regrets about what they created. “That’s why it’s sad now… even though he’s gone completely left, I’m so glad we did what we did together.”
Sadness Over A Fallen Star
Legend noted how distressing the transformation has been. “All of it makes me sad… It never affects me personally, but the whole story is sad.” He spoke of West’s praise for Hitler and other hateful rhetoric that shockingly contrasts with the creative, optimistic figure he once worked alongside.
Despite the turmoil, Legend remains focused on his future work. He continues touring for his “Get Lifted 20th Anniversary” world tour and is collaborating with big names on new music. Though the relationship with West has changed dramatically, Legend still holds pride in their shared music legacy.