Kanye West: Controversy as Marketing in Action

Kanye West just showed the world how to get yourself free press in ten seconds or less.

Love him or hate him, Kanye's stunt just got him some free press for the next few days.

For those that haven't heard, Kanye West stole Taylor Swift's shining moment as she accepted her award for Best Female Artist during the MTV Movie Awards. He quite literally appeared out of nowhere, snatched the microphone from her stunned hands, and said that Beyonce's video was the best out there. Taylor Swift was shocked. She stood in utter disbelief. Who wouldn't?

I've read and heard the country reverberate their reactions via Twitter and Facebook. And if you think about it, as rude and uncalled for as his actions were, Kanye got people talking. Whether that was the desired effect or not. But if you've read any kind of marketing articles or public relations pieces, talk is talk is talk. And talk is better than no talk. Positive or negative reactions are still reactions. Kanye just made his way to the front of celebrity news.

While this whole stunt's waves will dissipate in a matter of days, I think it was a smart, albeit, messed up move. But Kanye West has a track record of big ego moments. This isn't the first time he's publicly whined about himself. In 2006, he was a sore loser at the European MTV Awards. Then in 2008, he claimed that the MTV Europe Awards are fixed. So this isn't the first time that Kanye has had beef with an MTV Awards show. I doubt it will be the last.

I do feel bad for Taylor Swift; she's a sweet girl and I'm sure Kanye's stunt came as a COMPLETE and utter shock. I wonder if he would have done the same thing had Katy Perry won. Or Pink?

Nothing like a little controversy to get some press.