<p id=”par-1_106″>Rumors are swirling that <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/kanye-west/?swcfpc=1″>Kanye West </a>has fled the United States, partly because he fears he’ll be connected to the Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs scandal. West’s name hasn’t been mentioned often regarding the scandal. Still, the heat is getting closer. His friend, Jay-Z, has been dragged into the chaos, with <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/jay-z-pushing-accusers-name-public-amid-lawsuit.html/”>a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault</a>. While we’ve yet to learn if West is connected to the massive legal case, his decision to stay mainly out of the United States is suspicious. This isn’t the first time he’s left the country amid controversy, though. He actually fled to the same location more than a decade ago.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-kanye-west-left-the-united-states-after-the-taylor-swift-incident”>Kanye West left the United States after the Taylor Swift incident</h2>
<p id=”par-2_44″>Kanye West might have recently exiled himself, although the reasons for his departure remain unclear. Still, it’s not his first time leaving the country amid scandal and controversy. Kanye West spent time abroad after interrupting Taylor Swift’s speech at <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/taylor-swift-history-vmas-memorable-moments-kanye-west.html/”>the 2009 Video Music Awards.</a></p>
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<iframe title=”Kanye West Talks About the Taylor Swift Incident” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/rej2Ts_TpwQ?start=21&feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p id=”par-3_65″>West opened up about leaving the States behind after the debacle during an appearance on <em><a target=”_blank” href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rej2Ts_TpwQ” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>The Ellen DeGeneres Show</a></em>. During his appearance, he told Ellen Degeneres that he had left his life behind and stopped working on music after the incident and its backlash. He noted that he traveled to Japan first to avoid the paparazzi altogether, which is where he is currently spending his time.</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-2″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/taylor-swift-kanye-west.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Kanye West standing next to Taylor Swift” class=”wp-image-3678892″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>taylor swift kanye west</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-4_61″>After spending time in Japan, he moved on to Rome, where he lived for several months before returning to the United States. Even then, he admitted, he didn’t return to the “scene” immediately. When he traveled back to the United States, he settled in Hawaii, hoping to maintain some privacy. Degeneres revealed that Mos Def advised West to leave the country.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-is-kanye-west-running-from-his-problems-again”>Is Kanye West running from his problems again?</h2>
<p id=”par-5_69″>It has been 15 years since Kanye West fled the United States after destroying Taylor Swift’s moment. A lot has happened in those 15 years. West has produced several successful music projects; he’s been married and divorced and has become a father four times over. Still, he appears to be reverting to his old habits. Sources insist <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/kanye-west-seen-with-kids-in-tokyo-amid-reports-kim-kardashian-will-plan-legal-battle-over-his-permanent-move.html/”>Kanye West’s recent interest in Japan</a> is due to his current issues.</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-3″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Kanye-West-1.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Bianca Censori and Kanye West are seen upon arrival at Narita International Airport on June 09, 2024 in Narita, Japan. ” class=”wp-image-3765200″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>NARITA, JAPAN – JUNE 09: Bianca Censori and Kanye West | Jun Sato/WireImage</figcaption></figure>
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<p id=”par-6_110″>According to several sources, West is petrified of returning to the United States because of several lawsuits filed against him. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ arrest is reportedly a compounding factor, according to <a href=”https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14260031/Kanye-West-Diddy-sean-combs-lawsuits.html” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>the Daily Mail</a>. The publication spoke with an insider who says West fled the country and is too afraid to come back because of <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/bianca-censori-participated-twisted-bizarre-sexual-behavior-kanye-west-new-lawsuit-alleges.html/”>the sexual harassment allegations </a>against him and Diddy’s recent legal troubles. He’s even shirked his responsibility to his four children, whom he shares with Kim Kardashian, to remain abroad. Three of his children recently visited him in Japan but hadn’t seen him for months before the meetup. North West was not spotted during the visit.</p>