Amber Rose Admits She ‘Hyped Up’ Kanye...

‘Accidentally Gassed Up’: Amber Rose Admits She ‘Hyped Up’ Kanye Before Infamous Taylor Swift Interruption

LOS ANGELES — Seventeen years after the mic-grab heard around the world, Amber Rose has offered a startling new perspective on the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. In a candid new interview, the model and media personality admitted that she might have inadvertently "fueled" Kanye West’s decision to storm the stage during Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech.

Appearing on the Ball in the Family podcast on Tuesday 5th May, Rose, who dated West from 2008 to 2010, confessed that she played the role of the ultimate "hype woman" in the moments leading up to the ceremony, even encouraging the rapper to bring his infamous bottle of Hennessy.

‘Babe, You Need the Henny’

While the image of West swigging from a bottle of cognac on the red carpet has become a staple of pop culture history, Rose revealed that the idea was partially hers. Recalling their car ride to the Radio City Music Hall, Rose admitted she was in full "cheerleader" mode.

“It’s partially my fault,” Rose told hosts Lonzo and LiAngelo Ball. “I’m a Libra, so when I love a man, I’m his biggest cheerleader. We get in the car, we’re about to go to the VMAs, and I’m like, ‘Babe, you got that bottle of Hennessy upstairs. You’re a superstar. You need to get the Henny. We need to be on the carpet just taking shots.’”

 

 

Rose explained that she spent the journey "gassing him up," repeatedly telling West that he was "the biggest thing in the whole world." However, she insisted that her intention was simply to celebrate his stardom, not to incite a televised ambush.

The ‘Backfire’ Heard Round the World

The encouragement apparently worked too well. Once inside the venue, West famously interrupted a 19-year-old Taylor Swift as she accepted the award for Best Female Video, declaring that Beyoncé had "one of the best videos of all time."

Rose recalled the moment the plan "backfired" from her seat in the audience.

“All of a sudden I’m just sitting there and then he’s on stage,” she said. “I’m like, ‘Oh s—t. I was not expecting that.’ Do I agree with how he did it? No. But was he right? Yes. That’s how I feel.”

The 2009 VMA Incident – A Timeline of ‘The Interruption’

A Complicated Defense

Despite acknowledging the awkwardness of the moment, Rose stood by West’s artistic critique, echoing a sentiment she has shared in previous interviews, including a 2025 appearance on Club Shay Shay. She maintains that while the method was wrong, West’s belief that Beyoncé’s Single Ladies deserved the trophy over Swift’s You Belong With Me was a valid artistic stance.

The confession arrives at a time of renewed interest in the "West-Swift-Rose" triangle, particularly following Rose’s high-profile appearance at the 2024 Republican National Convention and her continued commentary on her time with the Yeezy founder.

The Verdict

While Kanye West has never been one to shift blame for his outbursts, Rose’s admission adds a layer of "liquid courage" to the 2009 narrative. It suggests that one of the most divisive moments in music history wasn't just a spontaneous act of ego, but the result of a "superstar" being told exactly what he wanted to hear by the woman he loved.

As Taylor Swift continues her record-breaking Eras Tour and West remains a lightning rod for controversy, Rose’s latest revelation serves as a reminder that behind every "infamous" moment, there is often a bottle of Hennessy and a very loud cheerleader.