It has been widely considered one of the most unforgettable and infamous moments in the history of pop culture and television award shows. When the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards took place, the music industry was forever changed by a single stage interruption that sparked decades of headlines, feuds, and controversies. During that broadcast, a young Taylor Swift was famously interrupted during her acceptance speech by rapper Kanye West. For years, the narrative surrounding the shocking ambush has focused almost exclusively on West and Swift. However, a new voice has recently entered the conversation to offer a completely unprecedented perspective on the events that transpired that night. Amber Rose, the model, television personality, and former girlfriend of Kanye West, has now come forward to discuss her own personal role in the incident, making a stunning admission that adds a whole new layer of context to the viral moment.
In a recent guest appearance on the “Ball in the Family Podcast With Lonzo & Gelo Ball,” which aired its newest episode on YouTube on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, Amber Rose revisited the 2009 drama. Reflecting on the infamous night, the 42-year-old model openly admitted that she may have inadvertently fueled the rapper’s actions, claiming partial responsibility for the unforgettable stage crash that left millions of viewers around the world completely stunned.
The 2009 MTV VMAs: A Night Etched in Pop Culture History
To fully understand the gravity of Amber Rose’s recent revelations, one must look back at the original incident that took place at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2009. At the time, Taylor Swift was a 19-year-old rising artist who was rapidly transitioning from a country music darling into a global pop music phenomenon. That evening, Swift reached a massive milestone in her young career when she won her very first VMA trophy, taking home the highly coveted award for Best Female Video for her hit song, “You Belong with Me.”
As the young singer-songwriter took the stage to deliver her acceptance speech, the celebratory atmosphere was abruptly shattered. Kanye West, who firmly believed that the award should have gone to Beyoncé for her iconic “Single Ladies” music video, unexpectedly stormed the stage. In a move that shocked the live audience and viewers at home, the rapper approached Swift and physically took the microphone from her hands.
West then delivered the quote that has since been etched into the history of award shows: “Yo, Taylor, I’m really happy for you, I’ma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time! One of the best videos of all time.”
The abrupt interruption left Swift speechless, sparked a massive public outcry, and ignited a highly publicized, tumultuous feud between Kanye West and Taylor Swift that has gripped fans and the media for years. Yet, behind the scenes of this very public spectacle, there was a private dynamic unfolding between Kanye West and his date for the evening, Amber Rose.
Amber Rose’s Podcast Confession: “It’s Partially My Fault”
Amber Rose and Kanye West were in a high-profile relationship that lasted from 2008 to 2010. Naturally, as his girlfriend at the time, she accompanied the “Runaway” rapper to the 2009 MTV VMAs. For nearly two decades, Rose has remained relatively quiet regarding the specifics of what happened leading up to the broadcast. However, during her May 2026 appearance on the “Ball in the Family Podcast,” she decided to peel back the curtain and share her side of the story.
“I don’t think I ever publicly talked about this,” Rose confessed to the podcast hosts. In a surprising twist of accountability, the television personality explicitly stated that she played a part in the buildup to the interruption. “Um, it’s partially my fault,” she admitted.
To explain her reasoning, Rose delved into the dynamics of her romantic relationships and her specific personality traits when she is dating someone. She described herself as an immensely supportive partner, to the point where it might be detrimental. “When I’m with a man, I’m his biggest cheerleader,” she explained on the podcast. “I’mma hype you up. Even if you wrong, I’mma hype you up. Maybe that’s a toxic trait of mine but that’s just how I am.”
This self-described “toxic trait” of unconditionally hyping up her partner was in full effect on the night of the 2009 VMAs. According to Rose, the catalyst for the entire evening’s chaotic energy began before they even arrived at the venue.
The Hennessy Factor: Hyping Up Kanye West
As Rose recalled the timeline of events on the podcast, she painted a vivid picture of the moments leading up to the red carpet. The model revealed that she actively encouraged West, who is now 48, to bring a bottle of alcohol to the highly publicized event. Prior to the incident, Rose used alcohol as a tool to hype the rapper up, setting a raucous tone for the evening.
“So when I was with Kanye at the time, and we get in the car, we about to go to the VMAs and I’m like, ‘Babe, you got that bottle of Hennessy upstairs like you a superstar,’” Rose recounted.
Her encouragement did not stop at merely suggesting he bring the bottle; she actively pushed for them to consume the cognac publicly as a flex of his celebrity status. “’You need to get the Henny. We need to be, you know, just taking shots of Henny on the carpet,’” she told him. “I’m hyping him up.”
According to Rose, West was highly receptive to her enthusiastic encouragement. He ultimately sided with her suggestion, responding with, “Yeah, let me go get the Henny.” Ye enthusiastically retrieved the bottle of Hennessy, and as documented by numerous photographs from the 2009 red carpet, the rapper proceeded to take back-to-back sips from the drink while encouraging other celebrities in his vicinity to join in the revelry.
While Rose was simply acting as what she described as the ultimate supportive girlfriend, she now recognizes that injecting a bottle of hard liquor into the mix may have severely escalated the situation. “That’s how I am as a girlfriend,” she noted, before acknowledging the unintended consequences of her actions.
A Shocking Stage Crash: “I Was Not Expecting That”
While Amber Rose may have been successful in hyping her boyfriend up and ensuring he felt like a superstar on the red carpet, she was completely unprepared for how that amplified energy would manifest inside the award show venue. When Taylor Swift’s name was announced as the winner for Best Female Video, the situation quickly spiraled out of Rose’s control.
As Kanye West famously rushed the stage to interrupt the 19-year-old pop star, Rose was left behind in the audience, watching the disaster unfold in real-time. She claims that when the infamous moment occurred, she had absolutely no time to react and was caught entirely off guard.
“It kind of backfired because like all of a sudden I’m just sitting there and then he’s on stage,” the model disclosed during her podcast appearance. The shock of the moment resonated with her immediately. “And I’m like, ‘Oh s***, I was not expecting that,’” she added.
Despite being the one who encouraged him to drink the Hennessy, Rose made it clear that she had no prior knowledge of his intention to ambush Swift’s acceptance speech. She was reduced to a mere spectator, witnessing the direct result of her hyping him up mixed with his own unfiltered impulses.
Amber Rose’s Unapologetic Perspective on Kanye’s Actions
One of the most fascinating aspects of Amber Rose’s recent podcast interview is her nuanced perspective on Kanye West’s underlying motivations that night. Even though she was shocked by his abrupt stage crash and acknowledges her own fault in winding him up with alcohol, she still maintains a somewhat sympathetic view of his core message regarding Beyoncé’s music video.
When looking back at the incident that rocked the entertainment industry, Rose candidly analyzed her ex-boyfriend’s behavior. “That’s naturally Kanye’s personality,” she stated, highlighting the rapper’s well-documented tendency to speak his mind without a filter.
She then offered a polarizing takeaway regarding the ethics of the interruption versus the validity of his opinion. “Do I agree with how he did it? No,” she admitted, conceding that ambushing a young artist during her first major VMA win was not the correct approach. However, she quickly followed up with a defense of his musical critique: “But was he right? Yes. That’s how I feel.”
This statement underscores the complexity of the situation for Rose. While she acknowledges the inappropriateness of the delivery and her own role in fueling the fire, she fundamentally agrees with the artistic assessment that West presented to the world that night.
The Unexpected Aftermath: Amber Rose and Taylor Swift’s Amicable Relationship
Given the magnitude of the 2009 VMA incident and the intense, years-long bad blood that subsequently developed between Taylor Swift and Kanye West, one might assume that Amber Rose would also be caught in the crossfire of the feud. However, the 42-year-old model revealed that this could not be further from the truth. In stark contrast to her ex-boyfriend’s tumultuous history with the now-36-year-old “Fortnight” singer, Rose and Swift share a surprisingly amicable dynamic.
During the podcast, Rose confirmed that she and Swift never experienced any fallout over the stage crash. In fact, she noted that they have spoken in the aftermath of the event. Swift, showing remarkable grace and understanding, did not hold West’s date accountable for his unpredictable behavior.
“She understood that it wasn’t me that did it,” Rose explained, making it clear that Swift accurately assessed the situation and directed her grievances solely at West.
The positive nature of their dynamic is best illustrated by Swift’s generosity toward Rose’s family. Rose shares a 13-year-old son, Sebastian “Bash” Taylor Thomaz, with her ex-partner, rapper Wiz Khalifa. According to Rose, Sebastian grew up as a massive fan of Taylor Swift’s music.
“When my 13-year-old son was younger, he was a big Swiftie,” Rose shared warmly. Upon learning of her son’s fandom, Swift went out of her way to provide for the young fan. “She sent us a big box of all her merch, got us tickets to the concert,” Rose recalled, highlighting a lovely gesture from the superstar. “We still have a bunch of Taylor Swift merch for my son and stuff like that. Very nice.”
This generous act showcases a profound level of maturity between the two women. Rather than allowing the shadows of a past controversy to dictate their interactions, they were able to move forward with kindness.
Learning from the Mistakes of the Past
As Amber Rose looks back on the chaotic night of the 2009 MTV VMAs, she views it through the lens of time and personal growth. The incident, which began with a well-intentioned but misguided attempt to hype up her boyfriend with a bottle of Hennessy, resulted in a pop culture earthquake that is still being dissected to this day.
For Rose, her recent podcast revelations serve as a moment of honest reflection. By admitting, “It’s partially my fault,” she takes ownership of the environment she helped create, even if she could not have predicted the explosive outcome.
“I think we all got older and learned from our mistakes,” Rose concluded. “It was a time in history that happened.”
Through her candid storytelling on the “Ball in the Family Podcast,” Amber Rose has successfully reframed one of the most talked-about events in modern celebrity history, reminding the public that there is often a hidden, complex backstory behind every viral moment.