Humbled Kanye says he needs a breather

Kanye West says he plans to take some time off to think about things after his outburst at the MTV Video Music Awards Sunday.

West has faced a chorus of criticism since he jumped on the stage as Taylor Swift accepted her Best Female Video award and argued that Beyonc's Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) was more deserving.

He was greeted with boos from the audience and apologized on his website the following day.

He used his appearance on The Jay Leno Show Monday night to apologize yet again.

"It was rude, period," West told Leno.

Leno asked whatWest's mother, Donda, who died in November 2007, would have said about the incident. West, who was very close to his mother, paused a long time before answering.

"You know, obviously, I deal with hurt and, you know, so many celebrities, they never take the time off," he said. "And I've never taken the time off, just music and music and tour after tour, and I'm ashamed that my hurt caused someone else's hurt."

West acknowledged that he was in the wrong, and had stolen Swift's moment in the spotlight.

"After this, I need to just take some time off and 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 just something I'm going to have to deal with," he said.

West also phoned and apologized in person to Swift,after her appearance on Tuesday's The View, during which she told TV viewers she had yet to hear from him.

Leno had referred to the West incident in his monologue, saying President Barack Obama had invited West and Swift for a "root beer summit."

West spoke on Leno's show before performing with Jay-Z and Rihanna on Jay-Z's song Run This Town.

In the past, West has caused scenes after losing awards himself at the VMAs, the Grammys and the American Music Awards.

But bloggers and fans alike were unable to dismiss the Sunday night incident as just a celebrity tantrum.

Later in the awards show, Beyonc gave up some of her own acceptance speech time so Swift could finish her acceptance speech.