Kelly Clarkson issued an open letter to Kanye West on her blog after the rapper stormed the stage at Sunday night’s MTV Video Music Awards in New York City to protest Taylor Swift winning the Best Female Video award. The ‘American Idol’ season one winner writes:

Dear Kanye,

What happened to you as a child?? Did you not get hugged enough?? Something must have happened to make you this way and I think we’re all just curious as to what would make a grown man go on national television and make a talented artist, let alone teenager, feel like sh**. I mean, I’ve seen you do some pretty sh**ty things, but you just keep amazing me with your tactless, asshole ways. It’s absolutely fascinating how much I don’t like you. I like everyone. I even like my asshole ex that cheated on me over you… which is pretty odd since I don’t even personally know you. The best part of this evening is that you weren’t even up for THIS award and yet you still have a problem with the outcome. Is winning a moon man that much of a life goal?? You can have mine if it will shut you up. Is it that important, really??

I was actually nominated in the same category that Taylor won and I was excited for her… so why can’t you be?? I’m not even mad at you for being an asshole… I just pity you because you’re a sad human being.

On a side note, Beyonce has always been a class act and proved again tonight that she still is. Go TEXAS!!

Taylor Swift, you outsell him … that’s why he’s bitter. You know I love your work! Keep it up girl!

KC :)

Self magazine editor-in-chief Lucy Danziger is reacting to the online buzz about their September issue cover with Kelly Clarkson, admitting the ‘American Idol’ season one winner was digitally slimmed in the image. “She is, like her music, giving and strong and confident and full of gusto,” Lucy writes at Self.com. “Did we alter her appearance? Only to make her look her personal best. Did we publish an act of fiction? No. Not unless you think all photos are that. But in the sense that Kelly is the picture of confidence, and she truly is, then I think this photo is the truest we have ever put out there on the newsstand. I love her spirit and her music and her personality that comes through in our interview in SELF. She is happy in her own skin, and she is confident in her music, her writing, her singing, her performing.”

Behind the scenes footage from the magazine’s photo shoot have since been removed.