I know, I know. This has become the standard joke about hip-hop superstar Kanye West – only someone with NO brain would pull the stunts that he pulls and say the things that he says. But, as we were standing around the water cooler this morning at work, one of my colleagues said something very interesting. He theorized that Kanye’s latest antic – belittling teenage country singer Taylor Swift during her acceptance speech at the VMAs, was likely related to his car accident from 2002. He speculated that frontal lobe damage could change/affect personality and behavior.
I found this very interesting. While I had been busy agreeing with President Barack Obama in labeling West a “jackass,” I had completely forgotten about this fact. I began to wonder if we were in the throes of yet another sad celebrity tale about a human being with a serious medical issue being placated instead of treated. Was West like the late Michael Jackson, surrounded by “yes men” who covered up or nurtured his neuroses so that the gravy train kept going? It’s certainly something to consider, though this is purely speculation.
According to the Textbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, disinhibition, inability to control anger, changes in personality and impulsiveness are behavioral changes that can occur following a traumatic brain injury. The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry clarifies that, depending on the location of the injury, different behavioral issues can ensue. For example, a frontal lobe injury is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that often results in disinhibition and inappropriate or childish behavior. Is it possible that West’s 2002 accident, in which he broke his jaw in three places, resulted in a frontal lobe injury? Could this explain his behavior?
Who can say? But, I would hope that if Kanye is really as ashamed as he has expressed to Jay Leno, that he would do himself the favor of seeing his neurologist, especially if additional emotional trauma – say the death of your mother by plastic surgeon – could exaserbate the injury. In the meantime, perhaps we should suspend our judgment. Perhaps we should not be cynical. Perhaps we should cultivate compassion. Just maybe, even a “jackass” like Kanye West deserves it.
About bloominglater
when i was fifteen years old, i stood on the porch of my parent's house and i prayed to God. i prayed for change; i prayed for peace. i was only fifteen. i've been embattled since then. i've been unable to achieve balance or to find spiritual peace and rest. the closest that i have ever come to that state was a forced isolation during a difficult separation/divorce. i thought that i would be safe so long as i stayed close to God. so, i prayed. i meditated. i practiced yoga. i ran two miles a day. i ate all natural foods. i took supplements to keep my body healthy and strong. i cut out nicotine, caffeine and sugar. there were countless days that i spent in silence, never conversing with a single soul. i was in control. i could count on myself. my rituals became my obsession.
i was an insomniac for six months.
i prayed that God would NEVER deliver me from that place because it was the only time in my life that i felt like i was in control. but i wasn't; my obsessions were. i had accomplished all of my dreams for healthy living. i had plenty of money in the bank (i had also cut out television, movies, etc.). when i said i was going to do something, it got done. i wouldn't rest until my task list was finished. i even scheduled cultural activities, events and socials.
i was at my peak. i was sending inspiring notes to others - encouraging them. i prayed and interceded for folks i didn't even know. i accomplished the greatest feats of my professional career, which culminated in a personal invitation from the CEO of multi-billion dollar company.
still - i had no peace.
i still remember the day that it all came crashing down on me. the anxiety each day was crushing. i was having 10 panic attacks per day. as i sat at the intersection waiting to make my turn, my body took over. i reached down and unlatched my seatbelt and opened the door in the middle of traffic. startled, i shut the door and drove myself to the nearest hospital. i was given medication to sleep. and that's what i did - for seven days. i slept for the first time in six months - only waking to eat and ride my bike. but at the end of the seven days, exercise gave me anxiety. being hungry gave me anxiety. i stopped moving, loaded up on fast food to satiate my intense psychological trauma and started smoking. my life has gone downhill fast ever since.
i have lost my spiritual connection to the source.
i am more than 30 pounds overweight.
i am in the grips of a cycle of depression and anxiety.
i have no personal savings.
i anguish over a cigarette addiction that i cannot overcome.
my life has gone from one extreme to the other. now, just as when i was fifteen, i look up to the heavens and pray for help. i pray for peace. but, the answer is always the same: silence.
during the michael jackson coverage, i became obsessed with understanding his life and his death. i read every article, collected every magazine, watched countless hours of his old interviews and read "biographies." what had driven someone with so much skill into oblivion? why did i so relate to what i perceived to be his tortured existence?
the only voice i trusted was deepak chopras. in listening to his interviews, i heard an honesty and sincerity: "he was my brother," he said to one newsman as he struggled to choke back tears. i wondered why michael, although he was surrounded by so much help: the top spiritual practitioners in the world, the top medical doctors, psychologists and dieticians - the most famous people in the world - why had he not GOTTEN help?
well, i'm not michael jackson. i'm not wildly talented or sought after. i don't have his money or accolades. but - i do have one thing: access to help.
i say all this to say that i need help - though my inner bulldog despises it. my main intent is to tame my inner bulldog and to find balance. through balance, i believe that i can achieve peace.
that is my story and i am grateful for being able to share it. i feel cleansed just because it's on paper. for i have come to believe that for all of my "selfish" behaviors and addictions, i have never felt that i was most important in my own life. that is not a life a balance, that is a life of fear.
i ask that anyone reading this biography who believes in light and hope, that there is one universal source to which we are all connected would send positive, protective and helpful thoughts for my journey to balance. in whatever way you understand it: prayer, sending positive vibrations or just sending me a joyful meditative thought - i would appreciate it.
selah.
and so it is.
You are right forgiveness is always good but it is a process…There are reasons for every action we take and I dont think anyone just happens to lose morality out of the blue…Things happen to drive us to do things like that…..but its not the first time he has done it…he seems to think he is above common courtesy because thats what"thugs" do…So he needs to feel the shame and feel what she felt in order to change…I dont listen to his music or have any judgement towards him so I dont need to forgive…he is human and is allowed to screw up …he apologized…and he will still sell albums …all will be good
The incident is a surprised to everyone. Celebrities and fans were anger over West's disruption at MTV Awards. But one good thing about him is that he did an apology after the occurrence. However, for a person that doesn't write all his own music, Kanye West seems to think that he has more talent than he does, which is why he thinks that he can interrupt the <a rev="vote for" title="MTV Awards News: Kanye West, Taylor Swift, Beyonce" href="http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/09/14/mtv-awards-news-kanye-west-taylor-swift-beyonce/ ">MTV Awards Awards to announce that Beyonce Knowles had a better video than Taylor Swift, while she was accepting an award. ("All the Single Ladies" is a few women dancing around in leotards
yes – it's a mystery. i think the greater issue for me is that we treat celebrities as super-human and as such, we sometimes don't give them the room to get the help that they need. i think that this is what happened to a lot of talented artists over the years and i thought it an interesting perspective on what may have happened. undoubtedly, there will be more to come! thanks for stopping by!
peace and many blessings!
T.
you know, i'm not a huge fan of either of those artists and since i don't know kanye personally, i can't say that he thinks he's better than anyone. it appears to me that he's very insecure. when you're that insecure, you might say things to make you feel better about yourself. i think this may be what is happening with kanye. did you catch madonna's tribute to michael jackson? i really thought that was the highlight of the show. thanks so much for stopping by!
peace and many blessings!
T.
Hi Dusty!
I do believe that people with brain-injuries can be held accountable for their actions.
I think that probably even kanye west can be held accountable for his foolish actions, even if he was brain-injured.
I do agree that compassion is an important quality in a human being, but that does not mean that people don't need to be called on their wrong behavior. You can speak out firmly and compassionately.
People need to be held accountable for wrong actions. There are limits that can be set, if you are truly brain-injured.
You can love a person, care for them, and set limits. Kanye West needs limits, obviously.
with love, Jas
i agree with you, jas. i just think that sometimes celebrities don't get the help they need BECAUSE they are celebrities. there's no excuse for bad behavior, but there may be an explanation. i just hope that e gets the help he needs.
thanks so much for your wisdom!
peace and many blessings!
T.
thank YOU Dusty, for your wisdom as well, just sharin', peace be with you.
And thanks for shedding a little light on ol' Kanye, he's a human being too, I get where you are coming from.x0x00x J