2016 really has been the year of heartbreak. We lost music legends David Bowie, Prince and other much loved stars. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie broke our hearts by announcing they were set to divorce. Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris - then Tom Hiddleston - called it quits, and Kim Kardashian went on a social media shut down. Just when we thought this year had made us all suffer enough, the greatest bromance in music history between Jay-Z and Kanye West is now officially over.
The pair have been working together ever since 2001, when Jay-Z became Kanye's personal mentor. Jay-Z allowed Kanye to produce five tracks for his big comeback album, The Blueprint, and VOILA! Kanye's fame was born! Jay-Z has always had huge praise for his best friend but then the cracks started to show.
In 2009, Kanye started to grow a deep obsession with Keeping Up With The Kardashians star Kim Kardashian. Kim was dating - well, just about anyone famous - but Kanye and his ego couldn't cope with the rejection. Finally, after her divorce to Kris Humphries, Kim started dating Kanye - much to Jay-Z's disproval. MTV News reported a source said, "Jay didn't want Kanye with Kim - he thinks it's bad for business. I think Jay lost a little respect for Kanye there." To make matters even more awkward, Beyonce turned her back on Kim too believing the reality star was "below her."
Over the past five years, we have been able to sit back, munch on popcorn and watch one of the most awkward and forced celebrity "friendships" go to war with each other. So far, here is a complete timeline of shade between them.
15 Every Time Beyonce Avoided Sitting Next To Kim
Beyonce has one of the most carefully guarded images in showbiz and she will never appear in public looking less than a million dollars. Rumors are that Beyonce believes Kim "cheapens" her look and she tries to avoid being photographed next to American's number one reality star as much as possible.
The only trouble is when your husband is a best friend with your enemy's husband there will be many social occasions you will bump into each other. When this does happen, Beyonce takes the opportunity to sit as far away from Kim as possible, using their husbands as a safeguard between them both.
Beyonce knows that wherever Kim is there will be a lot of media attention. Kim is dependent on newspaper columns whereas Beyonce's career highlights come from her tours and albums. As Beyonce is such a guarded person, she believes keeping this level of distance will keep her out of the drama. Or so she thought...
14 When Kim Stole Beyonce's Look
Not only did Kim steal Beyonce's look when she attended the Met Gala last year wearing a Roberto Cavalli ‘Naked Dress’ - but the look was three years old. Kim opted for her bespoke gown to be made in white, whereas Beyonce had already rocked the black, purple-featured Givenchy gown before. Despite the colour difference, fans began calling Kim out as a style-stealer due to them both looking practically identical.
One angered fan tweeted, "That's not your dress, girl. That's Beyonce's Met Gala 2012 Givenchy gown" and another also added, "The highest form of flattery?" Another poll showed that 57% of people believed Kim's gown was straight up style theft.
This isn't the first time Kim has been under fire for looking a bit too fashion familiar. Serbian pop star Jelena Karleusa accused Kim of stealing her unique image as almost every one of their outfits matched. She told US Weekly, "I think that her stylists are inspired by my IG page."
13 When Kim Accused The Carters Of Ripping Off THEIR Style
Kim threw some major shade at the Carters when she posted a picture of Kanye wearing a ski mask with the hashtags: "Throwback Thursday", "Last Year" and "Style Icons." The Carters wore the exact same masks during their On The Run tour, so we can only assume that Kim believes their “friends” ripped off her husband’s style but she didn't want them to think this went unnoticed.
Earlier this year, North West and her cousin Penelope Disick had a joint birthday party thrown for them and they decided to opt for a "mermaid theme." They both dressed up in adorable mermaid costumes including glittering full-length fins. There were even special Disney guests dressed as real-life mermaids who played in the pool with the kids. Just a few weeks later, Beyonce shared pictures of her 4-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy (right), dressed in an almost identical mermaid outfit. It seems that the style snatching between them had extended to the children now too.
12 When The Carters Snubbed North's Baby Shower
Most people would be won over by an invite that comes in the shape of a musical box, complete with a ballerina and plays a lullaby version of Kanye West‘s Hey Mamma - just not The Carters. Kris Jenner, Kim’s BFF Shelli Azoff, Kourtney Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian hosted the party but they never received an RSVP from either Beyonce or Jay-Z. Gwyneth Paltrow (Beyonce's best friend) also snubbed the invite too.
To make up for their absence, the Sunday Mirror newspaper reported, ''Beyonce and Jay-Z's gift could not be outdone, a $13,000 Swarovski crystal-studded high chair, designed by Carla Monchen. They had a similar one for their daughter Blue Ivy." Paltrow also sent a present instead of her presence as they added, "Gwyneth sent six-months-pregnant Kim a $500 Vitamix blender and a 21-day cleanse that will help her bounce back into shape after the birth.'' Guess it's the thought that counts?
11 AND The Wedding
In 2014, Kim and Kanye had a lavish wedding of their dreams in Italy but once again the Carters skipped the nuptials. The Carters were supposed to travel from Paris for a fitting to Florence for the ceremony but there was no sight of them - even though Jay-Z was rumoured to be Kanye's best man.
The New York Post's Page Six reported that they "shunned Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s wedding because it was too low-rent for the Jay Z/Beyoncé brand. They are guarding like hell their status." They also revealed, "Beyoncé wasn’t going to allow a Kardashian to socially climb her. And Jay didn’t want Kanye with Kim - he thinks it’s bad for business. I think Jay lost a little respect for Kanye there."
Beyonce and Jay-Z married in 2008, they pulled out all the stops to keep their wedding top secret. With camera crews poised and ready to capture the moment Kim walked down the aisle - the whole ceremony was a bit too shallow for them.
Kanye also posted online that he didn't give a damn who was there as he wrote: "It doesn’t even matter to me whatsoever, who would show up. Because the most important person to show up there, to me, was Kim. And that’s all that matters to me. I had to fight for that for seven years."
10 Then Beyonce Instgrammed She Was At The Hamptons
Kris Jenner told KIIS 106.5 FM that she believed the Carters missed the wedding because she just assumed they were working and that the absence, "Was the last thing on anyone's mind." However, she actually skipped the wedding because she was busy on holiday in the Hamptons. Beyonce threw some major shade at Kim and Kanye after she posted the above picture on the actual day they tied the knot.
After she received quite the backlash on social media from fans calling her out on her shady ways, Beyonce then posted a picture of the West's with the caption: "Wishing you a lifetime of unconditional love. God bless your beautiful family."
Hollywood Life revealed, "They weren't sure about all of the media and it possibly being filmed for the show." As the Carters had just been caught out in a huge scandal just months before (footage of Beyonce's sister beating up Jay-Z in an elevator after the Met Ball) they decided it was better for them both to lay low.
9 So Kim Fuelled The Carter Divorce Rumors
The "Beyonce and Jay-Z are heading for divorce rumors" have been around since 2014. As much as they try to keep their private life out of the media, they still can't beat the press intrusion and this has been the year their marriage has been under the most scrutiny. In Touch magazine reported, "The only reason the marriage has lasted is because of the business side of things. They are so entwined, it’s almost impossible to separate."
Kim didn't exactly help with the divorce rumors - instead she actually managed to fuel them. During an appearance on Andy Cohen's show Watch What Happens Live, when Kim was questioned over the Carters marriage she replied, "I mean, you just always hope nothing like that's true. And you just wish them the best." What could have been a perfect moment for Kim to squash the rumors; simply by claiming they are more in love than ever, she really didn't help matters.
8 Then Kanye Claimed Beyonce Looks Up To Kim
Nobody can deny Kanye West isn't a liability, he pretty much says what is on his mind even if there is no logic behind it. After all this is the man who once declared, "Sometimes people write novels and they just be so wordy. I would never want a book's autograph. I am a proud non-reader of books."
Kanye didn't stop his mouth running when he was asked about the rivalry between Beyonce and Kim during an interview on Power 105.1, he replied, "They love each other, they respect each other." But then he went too far by suggesting that as Beyonce is at work - she stares at photos of Kim on her wall. He added, "When Beyonce's working on her album, she has pictures of Kim on the wall because Kim represents powerful women."
Although he did also bring up that the two are rivals. He said, "They definitely respect each other, but maybe there's a Lebron James-Kobe (Bryant) element to it, but I can't say that." Well, you just did Kanye.
7 When Beyonce Shaded Kim's Parenting Skills
Beyonce is one of the most disciplined people on the plant, her gruelling schedule and global business success is down to her mindset of being born to achieve. She is also very proud of her down-to-earth upbringing and is a firm believer of being modest. OK Magazine reported that she was handing down her humbleness to her daughter after she was spotted "telling Blue to be patient while she waited for her order of chocolate cake."
Early 2015, Kanye made two hideous mistakes - sitting then 3-year-old North on the front row during the loud show which caused her to have one hell of a tantrum, then his second mistake was sitting Beyonce right next to Kim so she had to endure it all. An awkward video appeared online, Beyonce clearly trying to avoid North's screams right beside her as they watch Kanye's first fashion show for his brand Yeezy. Maybe Beyonce could help Kim out by sharing some of her own parenting tips.
6 Then Kim Tried To Take Over The Lemonade Spotlight
Beyonce dropped her album Lemonade this year and social media went crazy the second she announced it online. Then one minute later, Kim started to flood her timeline with NSFW pictures of her and Kanye making out with Kanye whilst they were both attending a friend's wedding in Miami.
Hollywood Take reported, "Kim Kardashian hates that she is not the center of attention at all times. So she was jealous when Beyonce's Lemonade album was the talk of social media on Saturday night. Kim then rudely tweeted a bunch of racy photos just one minute after Bey's HBO special ended. So it seems Beyonce and Kim's feud is not over."
It's safe to say the Beyhive were not happy. They mocked up images online comparing Kim to tap water and many tweeted "Let Beyonce have her moment. Sit down, Kim." Did Beyonce ask for the Beyhive to back down during the attack? Not once.
5 Kim Also Shaded Solange's Wedding Photo
In 2014, Kim posted a photo that appeared at face value completely innocent; she posed with her makeup artist Joyce Bonelli and other friends between some white mannequins - they all stared directly at the camera. Cool right? That was until members of the Beyhive called out Kim for mocking Solange Knowles' wedding photo. In the original photo, Solange posed on her wedding day with family members, including big sister Beyonce and mother Tina Knowles, dressed all in white.
Solange's wedding photos were published in Vogue magazine and they captured her big day when she married long-term partner video director Alan Ferguson. The couple tied the knot at the Holy Trinity Church in New Orleans where Solange performed an adorable hip-hop dance with her son Jules for close friends and family. Behind her huge smile, the big day reportedly caused Solange so much stress that she broke out in hives - maybe it was when she laid eyes on Kim's shady picture?
4 She Also Protected Rachel Roy After The "Becky" Scandal
Let's rewind back to when Beyonce launched her album Lemonade. On her track Sorry she sings the line "He better call Becky with the good hair." "Becky" is a well-known stereotype in black communities; the name refers to the average white woman with straight hair. The Beyhive lost their minds determined to find out exactly who “Becky” was.
Then the same night Lemonade premiered, Damon Dash’s ex Rachel Roy (the same woman who was allegedly the reason behind Solange attacking Jay-Z in the elevator) posted a selfie on Instagram with the caption: “Good hair don’t care, but we will take good lighting, for selfies, or self truths, always. Live in the light #nodramaqueens.” It was enough for everyone to call out Roy as the woman behind wrecking Beyonce's marriage.
Then Kim stepped in and showed exactly who her loyalty was with - Rachel Roy. Hollywood Life reported, "Rachel has basically gone into seclusion. She feels like she’s being bullied and attacked and is leaning on Kim for support. Kim has alway been there for Rachel and is encouraging her not to go on the Internet or read anything about Beyonce right now. She’s way too fragile." Home wrecker or not - Rachel will always have a friend in Kim.
3 So Beyonce Stood By Taylor Swift
Earlier this year, when the huge bust up between Taylor Swift vs Kim and Kanye broke out; it was Beyonce's turn to take sides. On his latest album The Life of Pablo, Kanye raps about Taylor Swift: "I made that b****h famous." Taylor then took offence and said she had no idea Kanye was going to rap about her in a derogatory way, which then led Kim to jump to her husband's defence and she leaked a video of Taylor agreeing to the song's release.
Beyonce then fully took Taylor under her wing, just like at VMA's when Kanye interrupted her speech and Beyonce played the peacemaker and allowed Taylor to have her moment; the two have been photographed together at many birthday parties. They danced the night away at Justin Timberlake's birthday party and also at Blake Lively's baby shower (so Bey does turn up to baby showers after all!)
2 Then Kanye Revealed Jay-Z Never Visited After Kim's Robbery
Jay-Z and Kanye have always considered themselves as brothers but their friendship was truly put to the test when Kim was robbed at gunpoint in Paris. As she was attending Paris Fashion Week early October, five masked robbers, dressed as policeman, broke into the luxury apartment she was staying and robbed her of jewelry worth more than $4 million. The traumatic event left Kim so shaken she has only appeared outside her own home in LA twice since the incident.
After supporting Kim at home, Kanye returned to his Life of Pablo tour and during a concert in Seattle he ranted about Jay-Z to the crowd. Kanye said, "Don’t call me, after the robbery, and say ‘How you feelin’?’ You wanna know how I’m feeling? Come by the house."
Kanye also bought Drake into the argument when he mentioned the track Pop Style. The original song was supposed to appear on Kanye and Jay-Z's album Watch The Throne but it was dropped because as Kanye claimed there was too much politics over "percentages". However that wasn't all Kanye revealed in his epic rant...
1 He Also Reveals Jay-Z Won't Let The Kids Play Together
In the same rant caught on camera at the Seattle concert, Kanye also shockingly revealed that their daughters - Blue Ivy and North West - have never actually met each other. So much for being brothers? Kanye continued with his rant telling the crowd: "Yo Jay, Bring the kids by the house like we're brothers. Let's sit down. I can't take this s*** bro. Our kids have never even played together."
The revelation left many shocked, as Kanye and Jay-Z have known each other for more than ten years. Also Blue Ivy has had play dates with many other celebrity children including Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin's daughter Apple. Kanye added on the end, "There will never be a Watch The Throne 2!"
Page Six reported, "Jay can’t stand him. He looks at him as this crazy, eccentric mother****ker he can tolerate in small doses. Kanye is a nut job. Everyone knows that." Cementing that both sides have now truly had enough of each other.
Sources: dailymail.co.uk, mtv.co.uk
