When Amy Winehouse Took a Jab at Kanye West at Glastonbury – And Why We Loved Her For It

Amy Winehouse was never one to bite her tongue. A powerhouse of raw talent wrapped in a vintage beehive and unapologetic attitude, she gave the world some of the most soul-stirring music of a generation—while also keeping it real, no matter who was in the room. And in 2008, during her now-legendary performance at the Glastonbury Festival, Amy did what Amy did best—she spoke her mind.

While on stage, mid-performance, she threw out a line that sent the internet into a frenzy:

“At least I’m not opening for a c** like Kanye.”*

Now, was it a joke? A dig? A little from column A, a little from column B? No one really knew for sure, but one thing was clear—Amy Winehouse wasn’t here for Kanye’s larger-than-life ego. And while Ye had already cemented himself as one of the most dominant forces in hip-hop, he wasn’t immune to Amy’s unfiltered truth bombs.

Of course, Kanye responded in classic Kanye fashion—via a blog post (because that was the Twitter of 2008). Rather than firing back with full-blown outrage, he seemed to take it in stride, writing:

“This just in… Amy Winehouse hates me!!! Now I’ve really made it!!! LOL!!!”

For fans, it was another moment that solidified Amy as an artist who refused to play the industry’s PR game. She didn’t need to be polite, scripted, or sanitized for mass appeal—she was real. And let’s be honest, in 2008, when Kanye was at peak “I’m the greatest of all time” mode, a little dose of Winehouse wit was more than welcome.

Tragically, Amy left us far too soon, passing away in 2011 at just 27 years old. But her voice, her spirit, and her fearless honesty remain unforgettable. Whether she was belting out heartbreak anthems or casually roasting one of music’s biggest names on stage, Amy Winehouse was, and still is, one of the brightest stars and greatest tragedies of our time.

Rest easy, Amy—you’re still missed.