All in good fun! Kanye West raised eyebrows at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 8, when he approached Beck on the stage after the indie artist nabbed the honor of Album of the Year. Though West went on to say that Beck should’ve given up the award and handed it over to his competitor Beyonce Knowles, West’s good friend John Legend said the initial stunt, at least, was harmless.
“I thought it was funny,” Legend told Us Weekly exclusively of the moment when West, 37, walked up to the stage, thought better of it, and turned back around. “I looked at it as just a funny thing that people were going to talk about.”
“It didn’t hurt anybody,” the “All of Me” singer, 36, continued. “Anybody who’s upset just needs to relax. It was funny.”
While most viewers took the West’s improvised move in stride, some took issue with the rapper’s actions, saying that he was taking away from Beck’s big moment.
“Beck won his award fair and square,” Legend added of the performer, who was honored for his Morning Phase album. “Beck is super talented and I have several of his albums and I’ve listened to him for a long time. I think people were surprised that he won but that doesn’t mean he’s not deserving, that just means people thought other people were going to win too.”
Not only did Beck, 44, beat out Beyonce’s industry-changing self-titled 2013 album, he also edged out Ed Sheeran‘s sophomore effort x, Sam Smith‘s stunning debut album In the Lonely Hour, and Pharrell Williams‘ critically acclaimed G I R L. The winner himself told Us that he took little offense at West’s opinions and actions at the Grammys.
“I was just so excited he was coming up,” he spilled about the “Only One” rapper. “He deserves to be on stage as much as anybody… I still love him and think he’s genius. I aspire to do what he does.”
Legend had equally positive words on West, telling Us that the star’s performance of “FourFiveSeconds” with Rihanna and Paul McCartney was one of his favorites at the Grammys. Chrissy Teigen‘s husband also praised West’s personal life, explaining why he thinks the rapper and his wife Kim Kardashian are a good match.
“They love each other and they complement each other well,” he told Us of North West‘s parents. “It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. It matters how you and your partner are in your relationship and if you build each other up and make each other feel good. If you have kids, if you’re good parents for your kids. So as long as they’re doing that then they’ll be fine.”
