Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
The Real Reason Why Kanye West Doesn't Smile For Pictures
Sad Kanye may not actually be so sad (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)
()
Whenever we see photos of Kanye West, most of the time it looks like he has a perma-scowl on his face. It's led us to deeply ponder and ask important questions like, "Why so serious, Kanye?" Is it because he was never credited for the idea of leather jogging pants? Was it because James Franco and Seth Rogen filmed a parody of West and Kim Kardashian's "Bound 2" music video?
Nay, it's because he wants to look cool like dudes from the 19th century who didn't smile in photos, and not smiling makes him giddy on the inside.
While speaking at The Daily Front Row's Fashion Los Angeles Awards at the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood on Thursday, the 37-year-old rapper revealed why he rarely smiles for photos. It's not that he isn't happy—because he is—but he got his inspiration for his sourpuss face from a history book he found at a Parisian flea market, according to Daily Mail.
()
Support for LAist comes from
Serious Kanye West (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for LACMA)
"Back when I was working on Yeezus, I saw this book from the 1800s and it was velvet-covered with brass and everything," West said to the crowd. "I looked at all these people's photos and they look so real and their outfits were incredible and they weren't smiling and people, you know the paparazzi, always come up to me, 'Why you not smiling?' and I think, not smiling makes me smile. When you see paintings in an old castle, people are not smiling cause it just wouldn't look as cool."
Kardashian, his other half, also recently revealed why she doesn't always smile either. She Instagrammed a photo of herself last month with the caption: "See I do smile... even laugh on occasion. Not too often though because it causes wrinkles."
()
The couple who doesn't smile together, stays together. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for LACMA)
West and Kardashian, a match-made in heaven.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake. -
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
Best of LAist