John Legend Says He Does Not Regret Working With Kanye West

John Legend has admitted that he does regret working with Kanye West despite their subsequent fallout.

Speaking on Ebro in the Morning, Legend addressed recent shots West took at him about how he smells.

He said: “He was very obsessed with the sweaters, and he said I smell like mashed potatoes. What kind of potatoes? Cheesy, garlic? … All of it makes me sad, though. All of it does. And it’s not for me, because obviously, I smell great.”

The former GOOD Music singer continued: “It never affects me personally, but just the whole story is sad. Like, seeing this guy praise Hitler, seeing this guy be this force of hate and just vitriol and nastiness. Somebody who has made some of the great art of this century as an artist, as a performer, as a fashion designer, all of the things that he’s done to make the world more beautiful and interesting and then for him to be this now, it’s sad.”

Legend also reminisced about their early days working together 20 years ago: “He was full of so much energy and creativity and optimism and we really believed that we were starting a new movement in music, and being a part of that was inspiring.

“It was truly inspiring. That’s why it’s sad now because we did amazing things together as a collective, as a movement. Just think about all the amazing music that came from it. The G.O.O.D. Fridays, all the things that happen during the first 10 years of his career, just thrilling and to be part of that was amazing. I have no regrets. Even though he’s gone completely left now, I’m so glad that we did what we did together.”

This follows recent comments by Legend about West’s “anti-Blackness”.

The “Green Light” singer said: “He had so much optimism, so much creativity… I didn’t see a hint of what we’re seeing now, his obsessions with antisemitism, anti-Blackness, and it is sad to see his devolution.”

Legend also opined that West began to change after his mother’s death in 2007: “I don’t think we’re qualified to psychoanalyse him, but after his mother passed in 2007, there was definitely a difference. His descent started then and seems to have accelerated recently.”