Kanye West: Heartless Alcohol

Actor Will Smith has a great quote about those who make it big. He says, "Money and success don't change people, they merely amplify what is already there." Now I'm going to add to that notion by saying alcohol does something similar. It doesn't imbue you with a new personality; it only exaggerates what's already there. Which of course leads me to Kanye West. In several photos from the MTV Awards he is pictured holding a bottle of Hennessy Cognac. Why drink from a glass, when you can just suck it down from the bottle? As a recovering alcoholic who enjoyed my liquor, I can see the point. But just because you can, should you?

Kanye West is apparently still grieving the death of his mother, who died unexpectedly in 2007. He apologized on Jay Leno's show for taking his pain and putting it onto someone else, (Taylor Swift as she tried to enjoy a moment of glory.) But, here's the thing. If you don't deal with grief in a way that means real healing and resolution, you can end up drowning your sorrows with alcohol and then lashing out at some innocent bystander. In recovery rooms they call that self-pity. It goes like this, "poor me, poor me, pour me another drink."

Twitter's tweeting with the song lyrics "Blame it on the alcohol" when it comes to the Kanye West incident. Apparently he was swimming in booze when he behaved unswiftly with Taylor Swift and was showered with boos by the audience. Maybe the alcohol amplified something in him no one wanted to know about. But he did it on stage in a very public way, so now we know.

Untreated grief and unchecked aggression often go on stage when we drink too much. Sure one can have fame and fortune, but without sobriety, you have to wonder what is it that you really have? Besides of course a very, very large magnifying glass (alcohol plus a national audience).
I'm not rich and I don't sing, but I do have sobriety and for that I'm grateful. When I see alcohol take the stage for someone else, I remember the good 'ole drinking days weren't so good. I don't claim to know Kanye West nor do I personally know what's going on with him. But like a lot of other recovering alcoholics, I do claim to know what too much alcohol can do. It can highlight the places that need healing. And when it gets really humiliating on life's stage, sometimes it forces you to get sober.

Maybe the MTV stage show will put some more attention on the ugliness of drinking too much and the healing aspects of good emotional and mental health. Who's Kanye West singing to in his song "Heartless" anyway?

How could you be so heartless?
Oh...How could you be so heartless?


How could you be so Dr. Evil?

You're bringin' out a side of me that I don't know

Maybe he's singing to his bottle of Hennessy.

Follow Lorraine Roe on Twitter: www.twitter.com/LorraineRoe

Comments

[WeCanDoMore]

Well done Lorraine.

[Lorraine Roe - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks!

[xinunus1]

Kanye West Doesn't Care About White People!

Sound Familiar?

[drewrichards]

Let me just start off by saying I think Kayne West is a total hack as an artist.

That is just my opinion...

But You know, this attitude really ticks me off...

You apologize and expect all is forgiven?

Hell no, why should it be?

EVERY damn drunk in the world that harms someone else while intoxicated cries..."I was drunk"

I'm sorry you have to forgive me because I could not control myself while drunk.

Well here is the thing, ANYONE who is drunk may not be able to CONTROL their actions while intoxicated BUT, they are still responsible for ALL of their actions and the consequences.

This little girl was up for her first VMA award and that moment is gone...ruined forever just like a drunk driver running over and killing you child...yes two different things but same dang story..."I was drunk" you have to forgive me blah blah blah...

Sorry no, NO ONE has to forgive you for total obnoxious and rude behavior.

You have shown yourself,

1. Immature

2. Out of Control.

3. A danger to society.

I just wish the cops had arrested you for obvious drunk driving when you left the VMA's.

You should get down on your knees and thank God you were lucky to not get popped or arrested...

I hope and pray you get arrested so you can finally sober up and see what you do to yourself and to others before you end up killing someone.

[Lorraine Roe - Huffpost Blogger]

Yep, being drunk never excuses bad behavior.

[Absolon]

Amazing, the dearth of comment when it matters.
There are some things that another man can tell you.....like you have spinach in your teeth.
But other things, you can only tell yourself. Like when to stop drinking.
God help those who have not told themselves that until they do.

[PatA]

West was acting out long before his mother died!

[Lorraine Roe - Huffpost Blogger]

Yes, but this is the first time he's involved someone who really had nothing to do with him or his award chances...in such a public way. I believe they call that escalating behavior.

[offred]

Couldn't someone lend him a paper sack to hide his bottle in?

[Lorraine Roe - Huffpost Blogger]

Exactly...certainly he could afford a fancy one.

[Lorraine Roe - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Leslie...thanks!

[heights91]

Kanye's been a jerk since way before his mother passed.

[saltyone]

well said lorraine, it's leslie

[WeCanDoMore]

Hey Leslie, found you!