“I really like Kanye, so I honestly wasn’t that surprised or upset when he first started dating Amber Rose” says Cindy “… he had just lost his mom, broken up with his longtime girlfriend and fiance Alexis. I know everyone grieves differently and this was his way, I mean, alot of guys have flings when losing the love of their life or someone special. Kanye seemed lost, and still does on some fronts and this is how he’s choosing to display his pain. I just thought that this ‘stripper situation’ would have been over by now.”

“Touche’ Miss”, is how I responded to her words. And after reading many small to large sized websites/blogsites it’s obvious many people feel the same way we do.

Kanye West with indecently dressed girlfriend Amber Rose at 2009 MTV VMAs
Kanye was said to be “drinking and kissing on girlfriend” all night.

Pretty Woman. It’s the movie with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. The basic summary of the movie is: A rich man (Richard Gere) needs an escort for some social events and hires a prostitute he meets (Julia Roberts). He takes her in off the streets, buys her expensive clothes, and basically changes her life. And of course, he ends up falling for her (big surprise). Like many people in our wretched society, it seems like Mr. West is trying to re-create Pretty Woman: takes a prostitute/stripper off the streets and turns her into an entertainment household name, a fashion icon to young unknowing girls, and sex symbol to men. Some people may be okay with all this, but I never have had a taste for random slutty people becoming famous for nothing, then getting their own shows and magazine covers… Tila Tequila, Kim Kardashian… there’s so many of these people and Amber Rose is the latest induction to the crew. Sex tapes, stripping, and just being a downright freak does not give merit to being on covers or on the inside pages of legitimate magazines… GQ, Vogue, even Ebony. It takes down their credibility and we as a society have to stop giving them so much shine. But then again sex sells and magazines do what they need to do, websites do what they need to do to get hits, but there has to be a limit.

I had a conversation with a few of my buddies about this whole ‘stripper situation’ (as some call it) and everyone responded with the same head-shaking, shoulder shrugging “man, I don’t know what’s going on with Ye”. And quite frankly, I don’t know what’s going on with him either. I, as a man, take pride in my appearance and my actions, I try to make sure I’m as much as a gentleman I can be. Haircut every Thursday, clothes perfectly ironed, class and work before time, open doors and pull out chairs for all women, exercise daily, read the Times and Journal everyday, always have an interesting book I’m reading, spend QT with friends and family, savings and investments in order, weekly shoe shine (my nephew does it and I tip him very well- you have to teach young kids how to save), practice my second language weekly, volunteer atleast once a month, keep my car and house clean, wardrobe immaculate… and no turning hoes into housewives. My list of some of my personal gentleman behaviors may be too much for some guys and too little for others, but that’s besides the point. The point is that a gentleman, whatever kind you may be, takes pride in not only his appearance, but his actions and lifestyle as well. And that means that no gentleman, especially one who knows he’s a role model, has a lady who’s a prostitute/stripper. Sometimes, at his low moments, he may have a weekend rendezvous with one or maybe even a month fling, but to turn her into a girlfriend is inappropriate, and it’s clear Ungentleman-like behavior.

So, basically, I just want to say to Kanye if you’re reading this, “Kanye, I honestly do appreciate your music and your style, your cockiness is a little much at times, but I understand it’s apart of the persona you want to portray. I know you’ve been going through a rough time since your mom passed away and since Alexis left you, but bruh- it’s time to get it back together. Man up and gain some poise and self-respect. Your image is tarnishing, and I would hate to see your potential for more greatness go to waste.”

Mike.