Radio Jock Pushes Taylor Swift's Buttons

By PopEater Staff Posted Sep 18th 2009 04:41PM

Five days after the madness went down at the VMAs, people are still talking about Kanyegate ... except for Taylor Swift. The country-pop star was making the rounds today doing radio interviews when she encountered a persistent inquisitor on the MJ Morning Show out of Tampa Bay. After three attempts to shut that line of questioning down, Swift grew testy and walked away from the phone. Hear the complete exchange, which starts off cordial enough:

First, the jock asked her to lay out the scene of the night with Kanye West.

Response: "I'm just honestly trying not to make it into a bigger deal than it already is. It's kind of become more of a big deal than I ever thought it would be. I just, you know, it happened on TV, so everybody saw what happened. I just would like to move on maybe a little bit."

Acting as if he didn't hear a single word she just said, MJ asked if she thought the whole thing was scripted.

Response: "Well ... you know, I um ... I didn't know what to think, but I think that we should maybe talk about something else, because, um, I've talked about this in one interview, and that was going to be it. It's not something I feel like we need to keep talking about."

Finally, the host asked if she thought West's apologies have been sincere.

Response: "I really would appreciate it if we could talk about something else, because I've asked you three times now, and I'm trying to be nice about it. It just isn't something we need to spend this whole interview talking about."

At that, MJ offered to give Swift "a couple of tips" about handling interviews, rightly saying that questions about the VMAs incident were not going to end with him. He started asking YET ANOTHER Kanye question before Swift's publicist jumped on the line to ask if they could move on. Arguing ensued and the call was terminated ... by the radio host.

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Taylor Swift Snapshots

FILE - In this Sept. 13, 2009 file photo, Singer Kanye West takes the microphone from singer Taylor Swift as she accepts the "Best Female Video" award during the MTV Video Music Awards on in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File)

FR103966 AP

Taylor Swift Snapshots

©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Tommy Hilfiger Spring 2010 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Bryant Park. Picture Shows: Taylor Swift NON-EXCLUSIVE September 17, 2009 Job: 90918P4 New York, New York www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

LAURENT/bauergriffinonline.com

©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Bryant Park. Picture Shows: Taylor Swift NON-EXCLUSIVE September 17, 2009 Job: 90918P2 New York, New York www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

IGNAT/bauergriffinonline.com

Tags: kanye west, kanyegate, KanyeWest, mj morning show, MjMorningShow, taylor swift, TaylorSwift, vmas

Comments

(682)

Saturday 19 September

By gadbutch

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I saw her on the AOL session and thought she was great. I guess this guy just noticed the other night.

By prmlscreem

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another classless jerk! he thinks hes funny because hung up on them, classless!

By Chris

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Too bad it wasnt Bubba the love sponge doing the interview. That guy knows how to work an interview. Second best behind Howard Stern.

By Tom

Dude have some respect you give radio DJ's a bad name,you are the reason people do not listen to radio interviews you DF

By George B Vieto

Another victim of the Duran Coffee routine.

By jon

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

keep her in pop she cant sing get her out of country music she not country at all she pop all the way when she sings country i would of shut off the mic

By erin

That radio host is an ass. She was trying to be polite but after asking to move on THREE times the guy didn't get the hint. What a jerk. She should have told him off but she's too nice a person.

By AKAI

actually taylor lost that one thats mj's job to do what he did and her job to play along when she cuts the interviews early that shows lack of dedication and she may also have fans that listen to his show and i bet you they wont play her music anymore radio is like papparazzi you treat them well you will be treated the same you act stupid they will do the same its true taylor has her choices to make but once you give them what they want then youre done next one until the job is done you can choose not to but in that case its a lose lose like he said some of the listeners may not know the situation some people dont watch the view therfore she has a job to do

Sunday 20 September

By Kim

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I'd hate to sound like the one who disagrees with everyone, but the guy's right.
THIS is why everyone's actually calling to interview her, she's a great singer/person and I'm a fan, but I think it's okay for her to be honest and keep her class.
Be real & answer the questions all your fans wanna know the answer to.
THEN everyone will let it go

By Trickster

What an a$$... He's as bad as Kanye. Taylor did the right thing. Classy...

By beameuphottie10

My take on Kanye West: Racist? No. Egotistical? Yes. Arrogant as well. But these aren't things he's unaware of. Funny thing is people constantly commenting on how "rude" he was, for doing what he did, meanwhile, their statements on these boards illustrate THEIR level of class (or lack thereof)!!! Seems like "the pot calling the kettle black" to me (pun?). Anyhow, with all of his flaws, there are MANY other celebrities out there, who have done WAY worse!!! Get over it fake people. This is just the "thing" of the moment......NEXT!!! smh

By Don

It's refreshing to see a 19 year old woman, and I say woman because of her mature demeanor and integrity, not to get caught up in the hype game that media sludge would trap her in if they could. With Taylor Swift's talent as a singer and songwriter, her iconic status among the youth and ability to adapt to situations and display the positive side of humanity, she should be around for quite some time. MJ ~ Take a lesson because your arrogant days are numbered. Perhaps you can interview Kanye and suck on his "microphone" for your miserable ratings?

By rb

MJ is grasping for anything to boost his ratings. Since Bubba the Love Sponge came on the air in Tampa, MJ's ratings are falling lower and lower. Nobody listens to MJ's radio show and this interview may be one reason why.

By Realgold14k

You are a class act Taylor.....you will be remembered longer for not talking about than if you did.

Reading, PA

By JD

She's obviously still emotionally distressed by what happened, and may be for the rest of her life. The nightmares of that moment may never end. She should hire a good lawyer, and sue West for a billion dollars. She can say she's 2% black, that way it won't look race based.

By eileen

How is MJ Manning any different than Kanye West? They are exactly the same, rude!

By Kelly

I used to live in the Tampa area and heard MJ's show a few times. He is a jerk (another word would be more appropriate, but I don't want to get in trouble with AOL for using it). I'm sure he is perfectly happy with how the conversation went down. All he is about is pushing people until they snap. I'm sure he has replayed the "interview" countless times since to show how "tough" he is. He has a VERY big case of little man syndrome.

By wildkatzaz

Amazing - she gets mistreated by a cretin at the MTV awards - and now other cretins are lining up to mistreat her during interviews. Drop the questions to Taylor Swift - and boycott Kanye the cretin - that's the way to handle this.

Boycott Kanye the Cretin. Let Taylor Swift move on.

By Carl

TAYLOR SWIFT IS PROBABLY THE MOST OVER RATED SINGER IN THE HISTORY.

THAT SQUINT EYED BUCK TOOTH HAS NO VOICE.

VERY ANNOYING TO LISTEN TOO.

THAT IS THE TRUTH!

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