Taylor Swift Receives Apology From Billboard After Sharing Image of Nude Wax Figure From Kanye West Video

"We deeply apologize to Taylor Swift and our readers for the inclusion of a clip that misrepresented her," Billboard wrote on Instagram on Thursday, November 28. "The clip has been removed, and we regret the harm caused by this mistake."

The footage from West's video, widely criticized as "revenge porn" by fans, has been a source of contention since it was part of a years-long feud between Swift and West. Billboard mistakenly featured the image in a montage highlighting Swift’s career as she was named the second-greatest pop star of the 21st century.

Swift has previously denied approving the use of her likeness in "Famous" and described the situation as "character assassination" when Kim Kardashian leaked an edited phone call suggesting otherwise. At the time, Swift responded via Twitter, expressing her desire to be excluded from a narrative she had been unwillingly dragged into since 2009.

While Swift has not directly addressed Billboard's error, she previously "liked" posts criticizing the "Famous" video. Her friend Lena Dunham called the visual "sickening" and "disturbing," accusing West of objectifying women.

Despite the controversy, Billboard’s tribute lauded Swift’s unparalleled impact on music and pop culture. They praised her for redefining the role of female artists, becoming the only artist to win four Album of the Year Grammys, and achieving historic milestones such as her record-breaking Eras Tour and her status as the only female artist to become a billionaire through music alone.

Anticipating backlash from Swift’s fans for her No. 2 ranking, Billboard noted that Swift’s late start in country music and subsequent domination of pop only magnified her achievements. The No. 1 spot will be revealed on December 3.

"She’s one of the most impressive touring artists of the past 25 years and the most famous woman in the world," Billboard wrote.

“For all these reasons and more, she is Billboard’s No. 2 Greatest Pop Star of the 21st century," they added. "The fact that her placement might spark controversy is just another testament to her influence and power."