Kanye West Pulls Out of Upcoming "Today" Show Performance
"Today" show co-host Matt Lauer talks with rapper Kanye West on Nov. 11, 2010.
/ Peter Kramer/NBCNEW YORK (CBS/AP) Kanye West has canceled a scheduled performance on NBC's "Today" show after getting upset with how his interview this week with host Matt Lauer was handled.
"I'm not performing on the 'Today' show for obvious reasons," West, who was due to perform the day after Thanksgiving, wrote on his Twitter account Thursday night.
During his interview, which aired Thursday, West grew annoyed after Lauer cued muted footage of President George W. Bush talking about how West's outburst during a 2005 Hurricane Katrina telethon was one of the lowest points of his presidency.
"I didn't need you guys to show me the tape in order to prompt my emotions to what I'm going to say," West said to Lauer.
The hip-hop star expressed his frustration again after producers later showed a clip of him interrupting Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.
"Yo, how am I supposed to talk if you're going to run the thing in the middle while I'm talking?" West said, clearly peeved. "Please don't let that happen again. It's ridiculous."
Lauer later defended the practice and said, "it's something we do every day. If someone is talking about an incident or a location, we run video of that location or that incident. There was nothing improper about it."
In a series of Tweets Thursday night, West analyzed the interview and said Lauer "tried to force my answers," calling it "very brutal" and a "setup."
Although upset, West said he doesn't hold a grudge against the talk show host.
"Much love to Matt and the whole 'Today' show. I accept ya'll future apology in advance."
Watch the interview below.
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8 Comments Add a Comment
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- He's a no-talent, arrogant SOB. I wish he could see himself as others do - he'd get humble in a hurry. Wish he'd shut up and go away, go do something useful with his time...anything, just so we don't have to listen to him or look at him anymore. He represents everything bad about being famous.
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- Kanye has some major issues, he, like a lot of successful famous people, has become dillusional, thinking he is a gift from God.
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- why dont he just go some place and stop giving people grief?
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- Is Kanye West the guy that thinks he has talent and something important and interesting to say ? He's still a ------- idiot !
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- "I'm not performing on the 'Today' show for obvious reasons," says Kanya. Hmmm...... could it be that you looked like a natural born loser when you went onstage, embarassed yourself, intimidated a teenage girl & stole her spotlight to make a drinken ass out of yourself & Matt Lauer showed a clip of it?
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- Thinking more about it, his color has nothing to do with why I don't like him. Arrogance and bullying are not qualities that attract people.
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- What do you expect out of a self centered over grown child that throws tantrum fits when he doesn't get his way.Somebody needs to bring him down off that peddal stool that someone put him on!!! And to think he has the audacity in expecting an apology from the Today Show!!! LOL.Did his mother teach him any manners or RESPECT!!!!!!obviously not.
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- Kanye West has proven that he is the racist. He pulls the race card at every opportunity.
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