Rapper Kanye West vowed to remove himself from the limelight of fame in an exclusive interview with Jay Leno last night.

West offered what appeared to be a sincere, nearly tearful explanation of the events that resulted in him interrupting an acceptance speech by singer Taylor Swift.

West said:

“You know, obviously, you know, I deal with hurt. And, you know, so many celebrities, they never take the time off. I’ve never taken the time off to really — you know, just music after music and tour after tour,” he said. “I’m just ashamed that my hurt caused someone else’s hurt. My dream of what awards shows are supposed to be, ’cause — and I don’t try to justify it because I was just in the wrong. That’s period. But I need to, after this, take some time off and just analyze how I’m going to make it through the rest of this life, how I’m going to improve. Because I am a celebrity, and that’s something I have to deal with. And if there’s anything I could do to help Taylor in the future or help anyone, I’d like — you know, I want to live this thing. It’s hard sometimes…”

Kanye said that he hoped to one day apologize to Swift face to face. He was not booed on the show.

Lil Mama just tried to explain why she pulled a mini-Kanye last night at the VMAs — issuing a non-apology for jumping on stage at the end of Jay-Z and Alicia Keys‘ performance like she deserved to be up there.

Here’s what Mama told MTV:

“I did not mean any disrespect towards Jay-Z or Alicia Keys. I admire them and look up to them as role models. ‘Empire State of Mind’ had my emotions running high. In that moment I came up onstage to celebrate my two icons singing about NY.”