Kanye West and Annie Leibovitz Issue Joint Statement Regarding Wedding Photo Controversy

In response to Ye's recent comments at the Cannes Lions Festival

via Instagram

Kanye West and Annie Leibovitz have issued a joint statement today regarding Ye's recent comments about Leibovitz at the Cannes Lions festival. Through the statement, Ye says that his comments were taken out of context and that he was just expressing frustration that he didn't work with Leibovitz for the wedding.

Leibovitz and Ye discussed working together for the wedding, but they couldn't get a deal done in time before the wedding. Leibovitz's representative said that "Annie would have been happy to do the portrait but she was never confirmed."

The full statement can be read below:

JOINT STATEMENT FROM KANYE WEST & ANNIE LEIBOVITZ

Kanye West’s comments about Annie Leibovitz while speaking at the 2014 Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival have been taken out of context and sensationalized.
 
Although Kanye expressed frustration that he was not able to collaborate with Annie Leibovitz at his recent wedding, he is not assigning blame, and is not accusing Annie in any way. Kanye and Annie’s representatives were in negotiations for weeks that were not completed by the time of the wedding.
 
“Annie would have been happy to do the portrait but she was never confirmed," said a representative for Leibovitz.
 
It was Kanye’s dream to bring together for the wedding his favorite creatives – Ricardo Tisci on the dress, Vanessa Beecroft on the experience, and Andrea Bocelli – Kim’s favorite singer - singing Kim’s favorite song as she walked down the aisle. The first choice to capture one of the most special days in Kim and Kanye’s life: Annie Leibovitz.
 
Annie Leibovitz – the legendary photographer responsible for Kim and Kanye’s recent Vogue cover – is not known to shoot weddings. But Kanye West dreams big. He loves and respects Annie as a true artist and wanted to bring her eye for beauty to the imagery of the event. In his Cannes Lions panel with Steve Stoute and tech guru godfather Ben Horowitz, Kanye was referencing Annie as an example of how to merge culture and tech.
 
"Picture this,” said Kanye. “The most-liked Instagram photo of all time, shot by Annie Leibovitz. Oh, I’m sorry for dreaming out loud. Again.”

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