      
Kanye West was arrested last night for allegedly assaulting a pap in Newcastle, England. Why does this sound familiar? Photographer Terry Blackburn asserted that West pushed his camera into his face causing bruising and a cut. Kanye was later released and not charged with any crime. Now he’s angry and comparing himself to Princess Di. Incidentally, note to Kanye: I’m pretty sure a drunk limo driver, no seatbelt and speeding contributed to Princess Diana’s death.Â
Here’s his tirade, in all caps natch, from his blog.
WHO’S WINNING, ME OR THE MEDIA?
REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH LIGHT I PUT OUT, THERE ARE PEOPLE WORKING JUST AS HARD TO ONLY DELIVER DARKNESS. IF YOU LISTEN TO MY MUSIC, HOW COULD I DELIVER SO MANY POSITIVE UPLIFTING MESSAGES AND BE THE MONSTER THAT THE MEDIA PAINTS. PAPARAZZI GIVE REAL PHOTOGRAPHERS A BAD NAME. A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS, THEIRS ARE WORTH A THOUSAND DOLLARS…LET US NOT FORGET THE PAPS KILLED PRINCESS DIANA. WHEN WILL THERE BE A LAW PASSED THAT SIMPLY ENFORCES THAT SOMEONE HAS TO ASK TO TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH OF YOU. THAT WOULD SEEM LIKE COMMON COURTESY. RIGHT NOW THE PAPS ARE ABOVE THE LAW AND THE PEOPLE THEY SHOOT ARE BELOW IT. WHAT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL IS PICTURES TAKEN WITH THE INTENT TO SELL….LIKE DRUGS WITH THE INTENT TO SELL… OR CROSSING CUSTOMS WITH ENOUGH MERCHANDISE TO HAVE THE INTENT TO SELL. THE EXPLOITATION OF MY IMAGE IS THE PROBLEM. IT PRODUCES A “BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY” BEHAVIOR THAT CAUSE THE PAPS TO DRIVE RECKLESSLY ON FREEWAYS, JUMP OVER FENCES AND INVADE PRIVACY ALL IN AN EFFORT TO GET THAT “MONEY SHOT.” YOU SHOULDN’T BE ABLE TO SELL A PICTURE OF ME WITHOUT MY PERMISSION. AFTER THIS LAW IS PASSED, WHEN YOU ENTER A PUBLIC PLACE LIKE A BASKETBALL ARENA ETC., THERE WILL BE A SIGN THAT READS…”ALL PHOTOS TAKEN HERE ARE PUBLIC DOMAIN AND CAN BE USED AT THE PHOTOGRAPHERS DISCRETION.” OBVIOUSLY RED CARPET EVENTS WHERE PEOPLE SHOW UP TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED WILL ALSO APPLY. THE PERSONAL PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THE PAPS IS WHEN THEY TRY TO CATCH YOU BEING A REGULAR PERSON. I AM NOT A CELEBRITY. I’M A NORMAL PERSON THAT’S JUST FAMOUS. I REFUSE TO SNEAK IN AND OUT OF BACK DOORS AND KITCHENS OF HOTELS ETC….
I AM PROTECTING MY PERSONAL SPACE SINCE THERE ARE NO LAWS TO PROTECT THAT FOR ME.
I PUT MY HAND UP TO THE CAMERA IN SELF DEFENSE!
HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED…WHEN I LEFT THE CLUB, I WAS ENCOUNTERED BY A THIRSTY PAPARAZZI AS USUAL. HE FELT HE HAD MORE RIGHTS TO MY SPACE THAN ME, SO I PUT MY HAND UP TO PREVENT HIM FROM TAKING MY IMAGE. I DIDN’T ASSAULT HIM BUT MERELY PUTTING MY HAND UP TO COVER HIS LENS. MY SECURITY YELLED, “GET THE CAMERA OFF HIM.” I GUESS IN ALL THE COMMOTION THE CAMERA SCRAPED HIS NOSE.
THREE HOURS LATER I GET A KNOCK AT MY HOTEL DOOR. THERE WERE FIVE POLICE OFFICERS IN FRONT OF MY ROOM AND I HAD NO IDEA WHY. I HAD MY SECURITY GO SPEAK WITH THEM. THE COPS WERE VERY CORDIAL BUT TOLD ME THEY HAD TO ARREST ME BECAUSE A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THAT WAS THE BOGUS PART. THEY PLACED ME IN HANDCUFFS AND DROVE ME TO THE STATION. THEY SPOKE ABOUT HOW THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY A PUBLICITY STUNT BY THE PHOTOGRAPHER BUT THEY STILL HAD TO GO THOUGH THE MOTIONS. WHEN I GOT BACK TO THE HOTEL THERE WERE PAPARAZZI HANGING OVER THE BRIDGE ABOVE THE HOTEL TRYING TO GET A SHOT OF ME GETTING OUT THE POLICE VAN. EVEN THOUGH I WASN’T CHARGED, THE DAMAGE WAS DONE. SURE ENOUGH THE NEXT MORNING, PLASTERED ACROSS EVERY MEDIA OUTLET… KANYE GETS ARRESTED. IT DIDN’T MATTER THAT I WASN’T CHARGED OR THE FACT THAT I HADN’T ASSAULTED ANYONE. ALL THAT MATTERED WAS THAT I WAS ARRESTED.
SIDEBAR, THEY QUOTED ME AS SAYING…”GET THE CAMERA OFF HIM!” LIKE I WAS TALKING IN THIRD PERSON. HE TRIED TO MAKE ME SOUND LIKE A CRAZY PERSON AND PEOPLE BELIEVED HIM. WHAT MERIT DOES THIS GUY HAVE THAT HE CAN SAY SOMETHING ABOUT ME AND PEOPLE TAKE IT AS LAW? THE FACT THAT HE COULD GET ME ARRESTED OFF A MERE COMPLAINT BUT I CAN’T ASK HIM TO STOP TAKING PICTURES OF ME IS VERY LOPSIDED.
WHO’S WINNING, ME OR THE MEDIA?
Wasnt Princess Diana driver drinking
Why can’t they leave Urkle alone?
Kanye doesn’t know that over in England you’re Hip if you get popped!
Now everything he does will be Gold over there!
writing in caps is one of the best ways to lose my respect in an instant.
He should carry around flour.
Everyone would win.
He’s such an asswipe.
Chill out Kanye.
I’m sure they only wanted a photograph of the “Voice Of This Generation.”
I HATE CAPS.
also, kind of kanye. he is just so whiny all the time. and so shit-doesn’t-stink-y.
Okay, I read through all of that. And, capslock aside, he’s got a point. A very well written point. It’s kinda scary in that he’s so articulate with what he’s trying to say and that what he’s saying is true. Yeesh. It’s 12:37 am, and I’ve officially used up my weird quota for today.
Yeah, I agree with Shezzy. I don’t know much about Kanye, but his side of the story sounds believable and most of the points he makes are reasonable. If photographers were more respectful, this wouldn’t be such an issue. I guess the mentality is that since entertainers make such insane amounts of money, they deserve having their privacy invaded.
I completely agree with Shezzy too. Apart from the annoying caps it was very well written and he has many valid points. If I was famous i would fucking hate to have people constantly following me to get a pic. I understand that it is one of the downsides of fame but there should be some limits in place for the “paps”
He gets paid enough to deal with it. Don’t like blood? Then don’t be a doctor… help people another way. Don’t like running? Then don’t run track. Don’t like paps? Then don’t peddle yourself… These guys bitch and moan about paps, but are the first to run out and use them to promote their product.
P.S. Dear Kanye, I don’t read ALL CAPS but I find it ironic that you take to the media to put your point out there and ask who is winning? :-) Love and kisses, DOWN UNDA
Is he so angry he decided to shout at the whole world? Pretty sute the royal family had Princess Diana killed, not the paps fyi Mr West….
Wow.So many people are so sensitive the caps.
Its wrong what the paps are doing though!
Poor Kanye sound so defeated, i can only imagine how annoying it must be to have strange middle aged men following you around and asking you personal questions
what baffles me also is why no law has been passed to protect them?
This is getting absurd
Kanye you have every right to be upset!
The Paps are “making stories” now, and suing the stars when they get a boo-boo.
Gumsey McGee needs to die in a plane crash.
Geez.. As much as i love his music i find him very very VERY irritating and annoying.. He is such a drama queen, and everytime i see him i just wanna punch him in the face…
I hate the fact that i totally love his music….
baby-man.
Caps are rude.
i can’t stand this guy. he’s on stage comparing himself to the beatles, he’s pulling the sympathy card with all that my mom just died, waaah, at the vma’s.
write yesterday and hey jude and then let’s talk. you’ve written that song about your teeth being wired shut. maybe there’s a reason we all gravitated toward that image…