Kanye West Attacks ‘Today’ On Twitter
While getting ready to perform in Abu Dhabi on Friday, Kanye West took to his Twitter account to discuss the reaction to his heated appearance on NBC’s Today on Wednesday morning — and to refute Matt Lauer’s announcement on Thursday morning that West would perform on the show later this month.
“I’m not performing on The Today Show for obvious reasons,” West tweeted in response to a segment that aired on Thursday’s episode of Today, and tried to contextualize the tension that arose between the MC and the host. The clip showed footage of West getting agitated when his interview was accompanied by video clips of George W. Bush reacting to Kanye’s 2005 outburst about Hurricane Katrina and his interruption of Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech at the 2009 Video Music Awards.
West seemed both irritated and energized by NBC’s attempt at exposition, saying: “I’m so happy the world got to see just a small piece of ‘the set up.’ I blatantly said I’m not performing on a tweet and to everyone around me and the next day they still announced a performance. Do you guys see what I’m saying now? This is just a small slice of the day to day bullshit that goes on that helps to precipitate the idea that I such an asshole, cause when I don’t perform oh noooow I’m the one that’s crazy or a jerk! … I want you guys to look at that footage and start to put everything together now. It’s very simple to call someone angry or spoiled or the one thousand names I’ve been called, but it’s harder to try to take a look at what’s really behind the curtain.”
West went on to say that he wasn’t complaining, and was instead happy that his fans were able to say how the narrative about him was constructed; he also noted that he doesn’t hate Lauer. “We don’t promote hate. That’s the whole point!!! I promote love and truth!”, he said.
He concluded: “They made a mistake … they thought they could pull it but they couldn’t! That was just a small representation of a bigger media play that’s been going on since the beginning of time. All positive energy … all smiles. Much love to Matt and the whole Today Show. I accept ya’ll future apology in advance LOL!”
West has not said whether or not his current spat with NBC means that he won’t be performing on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which will be broadcast on the network on November 25. A press release announcing Kylie Minogue’s addition to the day’s roster of performers and released by Macy’s on Thursday had West in the parade’s lineup.
Kanye West [Twitter]