Who Is Michael Rapaport? The ‘Friends’ Star Who Unleashed a Verbal Attack on Kanye West Days After Vultures Rave

Published 12/17/2023, 8:15 PM EST

via Imago

When Kanye West promised a comeback this year, it built a lot of steam in the industry as it should. Yet, the main acts were under scrutiny not just in the musical arena but also in Tinseltown. Considering his status as a global figure with untameable influence, the anticipation came accompanied by subtle criticisms. Adding to the row of backlashes this time after Andrew Schulz, it is Michael Rapaport. 

While many will know him from his cameo role in the NBC sitcom, Friends, there also remains much unknown about him.

What do we know about Michael Rapaport?

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Years ago, among the several guest appearances featured in Friends, Michael Rapaport was briefly portrayed as Phoebe Buffay’s love interest. However, his nuances in the comedy genre were exploring the likes of many shows and flicks apart from Friends. Having made over 100 features in both cinema and television, he also made a directorial debut with his documentary about the hip-hop group called A Tribe Called Quest

One thing that has been transparent about the comedian is his enduring love for rap music. Therefore, his involvement often surpassed beyond the cinematic preludes to music videos. Some of them would include Jay-Z’s ‘The City Is Mine’, Snoop Dogg’s ‘Lavender (Nightfall Remix), and Ludacris’s ‘Runaway Love’ among others. His advocacy for the hip-hop genre also found a place in several podcasts, including his own called I am Rapaport: Stereo Podcast.

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While his active participation in the musical field saw his opinions surfacing numerous times, this time his backlash was for the man of the hour, Kanye West.

What did Michael Rapaport say about Kanye West?

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Michael Rapaport’s vocal championing of the rap genre has been witness to many of his criticisms. Among the recent ones, it is Kanye West who was at prey for his Las Vegas rant. During a live stream hosted by Ye in the Vegas rave, he went all out with his venting. Among the several hot topics he touched, he also revealed something surprising about his daughter, North. As it is, Ye’s brew banter did not go unnoticed.

Heralding from very distinct political views, the rapper’s point of view did not sit well with Michael Rapaport. Instead, in his response, the American comedian made a stinging condemnation of Kanye West, retorting that he is an “embarrassment”. Along with the caustic feedback, he also denounced the rapper’s retreat in music. While this is not the first time that Rapaport made his cutting remarks on West, it surely feels this is the most scornful he has been.

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Did you know about Michael Rapaport and his scathing remarks on Kanye West? Let us know in the comments below!

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Anushka Bhattacharya

551 articles

I'm Anushka Bhattacharya, an entertainment journalist at Netflix Junkie. Armed with a degree in literature, I once wielded my words to catalyze change within society through my work with NGOs. However, as I stumbled into the exuberant hole of crime thrillers and documentaries on Netflix, it was love at first sight and pushed me into entertainment journalism.

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