TMZ executive producer Charles Latibeaudiere called out Kanye West as “an under-medicated, mentally unstable megalomaniac” after the rapper said slavery was “a choice” in an interview on Tuesday.
“Since so many of you asked,” Latibeaudiere wrote in a series of tweets. “Yes, I was pissed about a lot of Kanye’s comments… especially the s— about slavery being a choice!”
During his appearance on “TMZ Live,” West said slavery “sounds like a choice” made by black people, because it went unchallenged for 400 years. “You was there for 400 years, and it’s all of y’all? It’s like we’re mentally in prison,” he said.
Latibeaudiere took some criticism for not pushing back on West’s statements in the interview, but the host explained on Wednesday that he was attempting to let West “reveal” himself.
“Now, here’s why I restrained myself. The way I learned to interview someone is to let them speak. Don’t talk over them and get in the way of letting them reveal themselves,” he wrote. “Of course I wanted to immediately fire back by asking if he was losing it … or remind him about the pain OUR people endured in slavery!! And yes, I would have gone back to it, and challenged him once his rant abated.”
But instead it was TMZ reporter Van Lathan who stood up to West, saying that he is “entitled to believe whatever you want, but there is fact and real world, real life consequence behind everything you just said.”
Lathan said he was “disappointed” and “appalled” by West’s take on slavery, which he pointed out has impact on the lives of people who do not have the privilege West’s success affords.
Latibeaudiere praised Lathan for his eloquence, adding that he nonetheless has “personal regrets about the way it all played out.”
Ever sit so close to an under-medicated, mentally unstable megalomaniac (IMO) that you could smell his breath with every word he spoke… while trying to keep him focused enough to sit for an hour of television?
Everyone who said, “Yes,” knows what my day was like yesterday.— CharlesLatibeaudiere (@charleslat) May 2, 2018
If you said, “No,” thanks for sharing your opinions, anyway. Since so many of you asked… Yes, I was pissed about a lot of Kanye’s comments… especially the shit about slavery being a choice!
— CharlesLatibeaudiere (@charleslat) May 2, 2018
You don’t have to be Malcolm X to realize, at that point, you’re NOT dealing with someone in his right mind.
Now, here’s why I restrained myself. The way I learned to interview someone is to let them speak. Don’t talk over them and get in the way of letting them reveal themselves— CharlesLatibeaudiere (@charleslat) May 2, 2018
That’s what I tried to do. Of course I wanted to immediately fire back by asking if he was losing it … or remind him about the pain OUR people endured in slavery!!
And yes, I would have gone back to it, and challenged him once his rant abated.— CharlesLatibeaudiere (@charleslat) May 2, 2018
However, that wasn’t necessary…thanks to my man, @VanLathan who brilliantly and eloquently spoke for the majority of us.
So, yes, I have personal regrets about the way it all played out… but life goes on.— CharlesLatibeaudiere (@charleslat) May 2, 2018
You may now resume picking me apart (“house nigga” is a favorite)… cause as we all know trolling makes the Internet go ‘round! Oh, and … Thanks for watching #TMZLive
— CharlesLatibeaudiere (@charleslat) May 2, 2018