Shirley Manson Calls Kanye West A "Complete Twat" In Scathing Open Letter

In the aftermath of Kanye West’s almost-stage-crash at yesterday’s Grammys and his subsequent comments about Beck’s win, Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson has taken to Facebook to post a scathing open letter to the rapper, calling his actions “small and petty and spoilt.”

“Dear Kanye West, It is YOU who is so busy disrespecting artistry,” the letter begins. “You disrespect your own remarkable talents and more importantly you disrespect the talent, hard work and tenacity of all artists when you go so rudely and savagely after such an accomplished and humble artist like BECK.”

“You make yourself look small and petty and spoilt,” she continues. “In attempting to reduce the importance of one great talent over another, you make a mockery of all musicians and music from every genre, including your own.”

Manson goes on to tell Kanye to “grow up” and says his actions make him look like “a complete twat.” The letter has attracted over 35 000 likes and has been shared over 8000 times.

Manson’s comments follow Kanye’s return to the Grammy Awards yesterday when he almost didn’t let Beck finish his acceptance speech for the Album Of The Year award for Morning Phase. While Kanye’s actions initially seemed like a cheeky nod at his infamous 2009 VMAs stage invasion, Kanye later commented that Beck “needs to respect artistry” and “should have given his award to Beyoncé”.

Other artists have weighed into the debate too. Mark Ronson took to Twitter to congratulate Beck for the win and labelled him, “the living embodiment of artistry” in the music industry. “His win is a triumph of art over commerce,” wrote Ronson.

“Every album nominated was artistically valid, of course, especially Beyonces,” added Ronson. “It’s just encouraging someone like Beck finally get his view.” Kiss frontman Paul Stanley wasn’t as diplomatic, taking to Facebook to say that, “Beck should’ve kicked Kanye right in the nuts and said, ‘Get the f— of MY stage!.”

Interestingly, Beck seems to be taking Kanye West’s comments and yesterday’s events rather well. “I thought [Beyoncé] was going to win. Come on, she’s Beyonce,” he said at a Grammys after-party. “You can’t please everybody, man. I still love [Kanye] and think he’s genius. I aspire to do what he does.”

See all the winners and losers from the 2015 Grammy Awards right here.

Photos: Garbage – Forum Theatre, Melbourne 27/02/2013. Photographed by Andrew Briscoe

Post by Shirley Manson.

Big up @beck and @tomelmhirst for a wonderful sounding album. Well deserved Grammys my dudes

— Mark Ronson (@MarkRonson) February 9, 2015

.@beck is pretty much the living embodiment of artistry in our industry. His win is a triumph of art over commerce

— Mark Ronson (@MarkRonson) February 10, 2015

Every album nominated was artistically valid, of course, especially Beyonces. It's just encouraging someone like Beck finally get his view

— Mark Ronson (@MarkRonson) February 10, 2015