The art and the artist: The degrees of separation

TW: Brief mentions of anti-semitism and sexual violence 

It’s a tale as old as time, from Kanye West to Taylor Swift, musicians and performers – notably when they achieve extreme levels of success – will become embroiled in controversy and ensnared within public discourse. It is at this point where the debate emerges – is it possible to separate the art from the artist?

The most potent example is Kanye West. West has a highly problematic track record, and this makes him incredibly difficult to support. For example, West is criticised for his drama with Taylor Swift which stems from his behaviour at the VMAs in 2009 when he interrupted and stole the mic from Swift during her acceptance speech. On a more serious note, West has also been denounced due to tweeting “BILL COSBY INNOCENT” in 2016, during the Bill Cosby Sexual Assault Case, and for his Antisemitic behaviour in 2022, in which he expressed overt antisemitism in a range of interviews and podcasts. Be that as it may, Graduation and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy are acknowledged as some of the greatest rap albums of all time, being rated 23^rd and 14^th by Billboard. It’s also been argued that his debut album, The College Dropout, revolutionised hip-hop by reigniting interest in the power of sampling.

Undeniably, Swift has found herself in significantly fewer controversies than West, and they are completely different

We can also consider Taylor Swift to make this debate more relatable to a wider audience. Undeniably, Swift has found herself in significantly fewer controversies than West, and they are completely different. Irrespectively, we can all acknowledge that Swift has been under fire for her private jet globe-trotting. She is not alone in this vice, with many other celebrities, government officials and businesspeople facing the same scrutiny, but considering her influence and public position – and the fact she’s a successful woman, she has borne the brunt of the criticism. She allegedly made an eight-minute journey by private jet, and thus, it’s undeniable that she is engaging in damaging practices for the environment. At the same time, Swift has an incredible career, with the Eras Tour making history – breaking 18 records during its run – and her music having phenomenal success, allowing her to win the coveted Grammy Album of the Year award four times.

These two artists, however, are far from alone in controversy. In 2024 alone, we can consider Sabrina Carpenter being criticised for filming the ‘Feather’ music video in a Catholic Church, Doja Cat being criticised for her behaviour and attitude online, Katy Perry receiving backlash for working with sexual assaulter Dr Luke, and Ariana Grande for an alleged affair. More significantly, we can consider the rape allegations against Melanie Martinez, as well as the lawsuits surrounding Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jay-Z, who were accused of involvement in “an empire of sexual crimes”.

Before moving to my opinion on the issue, I want to briefly state that the prior focus on female controversies reflects the sensationalising of women in the media, which should be critiqued. I am in no way attempting to negatively portray, slander, or tarnish the reputation of these female artists. I am simply mentioning examples of controversy.

Another element to consider, albeit less important, would be the timeline of the artist’s releases and their controversies – wherein a release enjoyed before a controversy can continue to be appreciated, whereas a release following a controversy can be harder to engage morally with. I can empathise with people who appreciate and adore music from an artist during a time before they tarnished their reputation. I would be able to acknowledge listening to an artist’s older works as separating the art from the artist, as it could be interpreted as supporting the work of the unproblematic artist of the time, one they share an emotional and nostalgic connection, and not showing interest in the work of the problematic artist they have become.

I think it is possible to separate the art from the artist, but this is highly dependent on how you engage with the art and the artist

Personally, I think it is possible to separate the art from the artist, but this is highly dependent on how you engage with the art and the artist. Listening to their music through legal means, as well as watching a music video, does ultimately, although marginally, benefit the artist by boosting their streams and their views, which can help them maintain a career. Consequently, it is difficult to evaluate whether you have effectively separated the art from the artist, although I would argue it’s acceptable. Beyond this, however, further engagement – such as attending a concert or consuming products from their brands and collabs – resembles a complete failure to separate the art from the artist.

Ultimately, the decision to separate the art from the artist is deeply personal and nuanced. The separation of art from the artist is necessary to allow people the space to engage with art that they connect with, that means something to them, that is important to them – regardless of the behaviour of the creative. Importantly, I would like to argue further that we need to stop putting creatives and celebrities on pedestals, and we must stop deifying and idolising individuals but rather celebrate their art exclusively.