Welcome to Day 5 of a presidential book tour being overshadowed by a hip-hop feud.
Kanye West says he won't perform on NBC's "Today" show for "obvious reasons."
West became angry when the show played footage of his infamous MTV VMAs outburst in the middle of an interview about that other famous outburst — the one where he said during a Hurricane Katrina outburst that George W. Bush "doesn't care about black people." Bush has said he doesn't hate West, but objected to being called a racist.
West says there are no hard feelings for interviewer Matt Lauer, but he won't return to "Today" for a morning concert that had been planned for later this month.
"Much love to Matt and the whole Today Show. I accept ya'll future apology in advance LOL!" he tweeted.
And yes, he's aware that his refusal to play "Today" will make some people think he's acting out again.
"Do you guys see what I'm saying now … this is just a small slice of the day to day bulls— that goes on that helps to precipitate … the idea that [I'm] such an asshole … cause when I don't perform oh noooow I'm the one that's crazy or a jerk!" he tweeted.
Maybe a feud is just what Bush and Lauer need to make people pay more attention. It's worked for Jay-Z and Nas, Tupac and Biggie, and West and Taylor Swift.
