Bon Iver claims former friend Kanye West was “destroyed by his own ego”

Posted On November 15, 2025November 15, 2025

Bon Iver, real name Justin Vernon, released a song with Kanye West over a decade ago. Now, the singer-songwriter has opened up about his old friendship with the rapper.

The pair struck an unlikely friendship some years ago; Vernon was a guest performer at West’s Coachella set in 2011 and his Glastonbury headline set on the Pyramid Stage in 2015. West has previously called the ‘Rosyln’ singer “my favourite living artist”.

Speaking newly to The Times, Vernon was honest about his perspective on West’s recent struggles: “Well, ego is such a powerful thing,” he mused. “And it destroyed my friend.”

Recently, West’s personal assistant has accused the musician of assault, battery, stalking, sexual battery, sex trafficking, false imprisonment and more. He has also made several pro-Nazi, pro-Hitler statements as of late.

He added, “My friendship with Kanye started in 2009 or 2010. And I left my friendship with him around 2014 — before even the Trump stuff, the KKK shit.”

He went on, “It’s very sad to me. He just was destroyed by his own ego and nobody could have warned him because he wouldn’t listen. He doesn’t listen.”

In contrast, Vernon believed that Taylor Swift, who he has also collaborated with, is the type of person who is able to handle that much fame and attention: “But then you look at somebody like Taylor? She’s built for it, man. She can handle it.”

Elsewhere in the interview, the musician hinted that he is unlikely to make any more music. He admitted, “I’d be very surprised if I made another album.”

He elaborated on this notion, sharing that he believes he did successfully “tap into the emotion of music – the blue part,” however, “I don’t know how much is left. I’ve expelled a lot of it.”

Therefore, his creative output has currently taken a hit. He shared, “for the first time since I was 12, I’m not writing songs. There aren’t any in here. I have been writing since puberty and this is unfamiliar territory — but I am accepting it.”

Far Out gave his latest album, Sable, Fable, three stars, observing, “Not all new releases need to feel tightly pulled together with clear direction, and often, this approach works in Bon Iver’s favour. However, certain parts stand out more than others, resulting in a slightly disjointed whole that is sometimes let down by its own quiet weaknesses.”

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