West, 32, interrupted Taylor Swift's award speech to tell the crowd her award for best female video should have gone to Jay-Z's wife, Beyonce.
Speaking to Radio 1's Jo Whiley, Jay-Z said West's behavior had been "rude" but added: "He didn't kill anybody".
West has since apologized to Swift, but President Barack Obama called him a "jackass" in an off-the-cuff comment.
Jay-Z did concede the incident had been "inappropriate at the time". But, as West's former mentor, he added: "He's just a super-passionate person".
The 39-year-old, who will support Coldplay at Wembley Stadium this weekend, said: "Of course it was rude because it was her moment but that's the way he really felt.
"I think it was rude but the way they're treating him... He's on the cover of every paper. He didn't kill anybody. No one got harmed."
Jay-Z and Kanye West recently teamed up on Jay-Z's new album The Blueprint 3.
Hmm…I find it strange that Jay-Z is defending Kanye when word on the street is he flipped out after Lil’ Mama jumped on stage during his performance, which was a lot less worse than what Kanye did.
