Kanye West has backed out of an upcoming Today show performance because of a beef with Matt Lauer.
West, 33, was slated to perform on the NBC morning chatfest the day after Thanksgiving, but he Tweeted Friday: "I'm not performing on the Today Show for obvious reasons."
West appeared on the show earlier this week and got upset when producers showed a clip of former President George W. Bush discussing his hurt feelings after West called him a racist following Hurricane Katrina. "I didn't need you guys to show me the tape in order to prompt my emotions or whatever," a miffed West told Lauer.
He got angry again when producers later showed footage of the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, during which West famously interrupted Taylor Swift on stage. "Yo, how am I supposed to talk if you're going to run the thing in the middle while I'm talking?" he griped. "Please don't let that happen again. It's ridiculous."
Although West later said he felt "very tortured," Lauer and the Today show team are making no apologies.
And, despite backing out of his scheduled performance, West Tweets: "I don't hate Matt Lauer. We don't promote hate. That's the whole point!!! I promote love and truth! … All positive energy … all smiles. Much love to Matt and the whole Today Show."