Where Teyana Taylor Stands With Kanye West Years After Label Drama

by

It really does all fall down—even beef between Teyana Taylor and Kanye West. 

Five years after publicly sharing that she felt undervalued by Kanye West’s record label, G.O.O.D Music, Teyana Taylor recently revealed they’ve become friendly, even with Kanye’s history of controversy.

She told Vanity Fair that while she doesn’t always agree with his actions or words, she would never completely turn her back on him. She explained that family members, like her brothers, sometimes do things she doesn’t approve of, but she chooses not to get involved in those situations.

Despite being friends with Kanye West, and having worked with his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, on the Hulu show All’s Fair, the 35-year-old isn’t afraid to be honest with him privately – just like any good friend would be.

She explained, “If you truly want to know something, you ask me directly.” She believes that when someone asks her a question, they can be sure they’ll get an honest response. She also mentioned she often works quietly behind the scenes to provide support and get things done.

Teyana Taylor, a mother of two daughters – 10-year-old Iman “Junie” Tayla Shumpert Jr. and 5-year-old Rue Rose Shumpert – with her ex-husband Iman Shumpert, prioritizes focusing on her own life and well-being. She describes this approach simply as, “I’m in my business and I drink my water.”

Kanye West signed Teyana Taylor to his record label in 2012 while she contributed to his album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. However, after releasing her third album, The Album, she surprised fans by announcing her retirement from music in December 2020.

In a December 2020 Instagram post, the artist shared that she felt unappreciated and unsupported by the music industry, despite achieving over 160 million streams that year. She explained that she was consistently overlooked and felt like she wasn’t getting the recognition she deserved. As a result, she decided to end this part of her career, feeling content that her efforts were appreciated by fans somewhere in the world and that she could leave with peace of mind.

Though she bid a final farewell to music, Teyana thanked the fans that made her career so special. 

Oh my gosh, you guys, I just HAVE to say, I love all of you who’ve been with me since the beginning, and to everyone who’s just joined the ride – thank you, seriously, for everything! And honestly, don’t even worry for a second. We all know how it is – when one opportunity ends, another one always comes along, right? Or… well, let’s just say I’m not afraid to make my own opportunities, you know? Like, I’ll find a way, no matter what! What’s up?!

One year after her career change, Teyana opened up about why she left the label.

During an appearance on Cam Newton’s web series, Sip an’ Smoke, she explained that she felt undervalued because she was giving her label her all, while they weren’t reciprocating the effort. She felt like they weren’t listening to or acknowledging her hard work, leading to feelings of being underappreciated. She clarified that she hadn’t permanently retired, but simply didn’t want to continue working for a company that didn’t seem to value her contributions.

As the actress Straw predicted, new opportunities quickly arose. Teyana Taylor won the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture at the 2026 Golden Globes on January 11th for her role as Perfidia Beverly Hills in One Battle After Another. During her moving acceptance speech, the mother of two shared a heartfelt message with other women of color and young girls.

She spoke from the stage, declaring that kindness isn’t a weakness, and even in loss, there’s no shame. We shouldn’t feel we’re too much, and our inner strength doesn’t require anyone’s approval. We have the right to be present and heard, and our aspirations are worthy of pursuit.

Teyana and Kanye aren’t the only celebrities who’ve rekindled their friendships. Here’s a look at other famous besties who’ve made up…

Nicole, who has always loved her sister-in-law’s films, asked her a few years ago if she’d recreate some memorable scenes, including a famous one from My Best Friend’s Wedding.

During a May 2024 appearance on the Everything Iconic with Danny Pellegrino podcast, she recounted telling Cameron, ‘I need you to run towards me from behind the luggage cart, towards the airport.’ She explained that she was directing Cameron, essentially telling her what to say while they were driving. She added that Cameron was very accommodating and freely shared what she knew, which she greatly appreciated.

It’s a good thing Lawrence was available to hang out, because we almost missed out on one of our favorite friendships! Their connection started when the Oscar-winning actress emailed Schumer after seeing her 2015 movie, Trainwreck. Lawrence admitted she wrote, ‘I don’t know where to begin, but I have to say it: I’m in love with you.’ They began emailing back and forth, which quickly turned into texting.

But their friendship really became strong when Schumer casually invited Lawrence to spend time with her and her high school friends in the Hamptons. Schumer was surprised when Lawrence accepted, but quickly realized Lawrence was just incredibly cool and fit right in with the group. She described Lawrence as ‘the best person to hang out with’ and ‘one of the gang.’

Everyone could use a friend who’s successful and well-established! Jennifer Lopez and Sofia Vergara have been incredibly close ever since they met and instantly connected at the premiere of Man on Fire in 2004. Lopez described it as an immediate spark – feeling like she loved and enjoyed being around Vergara from the very beginning.

Vergara was also enthusiastically cheering on Lopez when she performed at President Joe Biden’s inauguration. She told TopMob News she messaged Lopez, reminding her of her Bronx roots and expressing how inspiring and beautiful her performance was.

Considered the ultimate celebrity friendship, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, and Lisa Kudrow have remained close since first bonding on the Warner Brothers set while filming Friends. According to a source, their shared experience on the show created a strong foundation for a lasting bond. Just like staying in touch with former colleagues, they prioritize spending time together, whether it’s for casual get-togethers or larger reunions. Because they live relatively close to each other, it’s easy to gather at Courteney’s Sunday dinners or Jennifer’s pool parties. The source says they feel deeply connected and expect to remain friends forever.

Amy Poehler and Tina Fey have been incredibly close friends ever since they met in an improv class in 1993, and they consider each other family. Poehler, who has one younger brother named Greg, told PopSugar while promoting their 2015 movie Sisters that she and Fey are like the sisters she always wanted. She explained that their friendship has given her a family experience she didn’t have growing up.

Philipps described meeting Williams on the set of Dawson’s Creek as love at first sight. They quickly became friends and shared a natural connection, bonding over things like drinking wine, smoking, and even getting into trouble. She said that immediate affection has lasted for years. Luckily for fans, we get a glimpse into their life together – from walking red carpets and coordinating outfits to occasionally giving Williams a stylish millennial pink hair makeover.

Oh my gosh, can you BELIEVE Drake and Adele are finally thinking about a collaboration?! It’s like, a dream come true! They’ve been on the scene for ages, both total legends with almost twenty Grammys between them, and now they’re finally talking about making music together. Adele actually said she loves Drake so much, she even bought the red coat from his “Hotline Bling” video! Can you imagine?! She had it delivered the other day! And Drake? He said he’d do anything for her – literally, anything, even do her laundry! They didn’t jump straight into the studio though, they just grabbed some food and went bowling, which is adorable. I’m seriously counting down the seconds until we get that remix – I’m already ready to add it to all my playlists!

After receiving great support from other women during her pregnancies, Eva Washington is committed to offering the same to her celebrity friends. She shared with Entertainment Tonight that she makes a point of having open and honest conversations, especially with Eva Longoria. Longoria greatly appreciated Washington’s advice when she welcomed her son, Santiago, in 2018, playfully referring to Washington as “basically my doula.”

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who famously won an Oscar for Good Will Hunting over 20 years ago, have teamed up again for the film The Last Duel. Despite not working together on screen for a while, their close friendship remains strong. Damon explained to Entertainment Tonight that they’ve known each other for 35 years and grew up together, sharing a passion for acting and filmmaking. He believes this shared obsession during their younger years created a lifelong bond.

The friendship between two prominent television personalities began in 1976 while they worked at a Baltimore station. Although Oprah Winfrey was an anchor and Gayle King a production assistant, and they didn’t usually mix socially due to the newsroom’s structure, a snowstorm brought them together. Oprah invited Gayle, who earned $12,000 a year, to stay at her home. The next day, they went shopping at the mall, and a lasting friendship blossomed over sweaters at Casual Corner.

While your dates probably don’t involve Wimbledon finals or palace visits, Meghan Markle and a certain tennis champion actually connected in a very relatable way. They first met at a 2014 Super Bowl event and instantly bonded. As Meghan wrote on her now-closed website, The Tig, they spent the time taking pictures, laughing during a flag football game, and chatting about everyday things – not tennis or acting, but typical ‘girly stuff.’

Even though Game of Thrones is over, the close bond between Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams remains strong. Williams, who was a bridesmaid at Turner’s wedding to Joe Jonas in 2019, believes the most valuable outcome of the show’s eight seasons wasn’t its many Emmy awards. She playfully told TopMob News at the final premiere that the show felt like a long and complicated way to find a best friend. “It’s been incredible,” she added, “and having a friend like Sophie during such a crazy time was a real blessing.”

Everyone’s heart probably melted seeing Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ adorable reaction when their oldest daughter, James, recognized Taylor Swift’s song “Gorgeous” at a concert. Lively later jokingly called the video embarrassing, telling Robin Roberts on Good Morning America it perfectly captured their over-the-top pride as stage parents. But their genuine friendship – filled with Fourth of July celebrations at Swift’s Rhode Island home, gatherings at the couple’s New York country house, and appearances in Swift’s music videos – is something special and should be cherished.

Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon have a friendship that goes way back, even before their Apple TV+ series, The Morning Show. They first acted together in 2000 when Witherspoon had a short role on an NBC show. Witherspoon, who had recently given birth to her daughter Ava, remembers being nervous about balancing work and motherhood on set. She recalls Aniston noticing her pumping breast milk and being genuinely curious and supportive. Witherspoon said Aniston was incredibly sweet, and that’s how their lasting friendship began.

The unlikely friendship between Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg truly blossomed at the 2015 Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber, and was later showcased in their VH1 cooking show, Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party. Snoop Dogg explained to LA Weekly that Martha, despite being different from people he usually hangs out with, felt surprisingly familiar. He described her as a genuine person, simply from a different generation. He appreciated that she always seemed to understand him and never said anything shocking. He felt a deep connection with her – a bond he playfully compared to a sacred marriage, not just a casual pairing.

Read More

2026-01-13 20:48