Kanye West Pulls Out of Upcoming "Today" Show Performance
NEW 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 thelowest 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.