Idris Elba felt "awkward" when he found himself caught in the middle of Taylor Swift and Kanye West's "beef" at the 2016 Met Gala.

Idris Elba

Idris Elba

The 45-year-old actor co-hosted the glitzy bash in New York City last year and although he was honoured to have been handed the role, Idris felt uncomfortable when the two music icons came face to face at the Metropolitan Museum of Art after their high-profile falling out.

Of the experience of hosting, Idris shared: "It was great. I felt really famous that day. It was a bit awkward because Taylor Swift and I had to present an award.

"We were walking through the crowd and obviously, there was a little beef between Taylor and Kanye."

Kanye, 40, and the 'Look What You Made Me Do' hitmaker's feud can be traced back to 2009, when the rap star interrupted Taylor's acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Idris was apparently unaware of their high-profile falling out at the time of the Met Gala, but the reality of the situation quickly dawned on him.

Speaking to the New York Times newspaper, the London-born actor expained: "I didn't know any of this. But I was there! And I was, like, 'Oh, this is awks.'"

On his track 'Famous', Kanye says: "I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / Why? I made that b***h famous."

But according to the outspoken rap star, he sought Taylor's approval before the song was released.

Kanye - who has also recently become embroiled in a feud with fellow rap star Jay Z - explained: "I called Taylor and had a hour long convo with her about the line and she thought it was funny and gave her blessings."