Posted on 09/08/2005 11:28:33 AM PDT by schaketo
The National Football League is refusing to punt Kanye West, despite the rapper's controversial trashing of President Bush's response to Hurricane Katrina.
The NFL stood by the hip-hop star Tuesday at a Los Angeles press conference announcing the talent lineup for the upcoming Opening Kickoff special this Thursday.
The roster still includes the Chicago-based rapper, who made waves Friday when he ignored the TelePrompTer and lashed out at the White House response to hurricane victims during NBC's live telethon, saying " George Bush doesn't care about black people."
The network edited out West's remark from the West Coast rebroadcast and hastily issued a press release that said that the "Gold Digger" rapper's "opinions in no way represent the views of the network."
West was asked several times to comment on his remarks at the NFL press conference, but declined to address the issue, saying that between the hurricane and the controversy, it created "a lot of pressure for one human being."
"I don't want to detract from the show at all, because it's entertainment, and a lot of times, in a time of need, we need entertainment to lift people's spirits," West added.
League spokesman Brian McCarthy, meanwhile, told the Los Angeles Times that West "expressed an unscripted opinion." Performers, McCarthy said, were selected "for their entertainment value, not their political views."
Steve Brener, a rep for the event, did not yet know what songs West is planning to perform during his "medley," aside from a version of "Heard 'Em Say," but it's a safe bet the Time magazine cover subject will not be performing the new track "Crack Music," in which he raps, "Who gave Saddam anthrax?/George Bush got the answers."
In any case, West's performance will be taped 20 minutes before the show comes on live, then will be edited into the telecast.
Some football fans are having an increasingly difficult time buying the league's position regarding halftime and preshow talent tapped by the NFL in its quest to lure increasingly a younger and more diverse demographic.
Last month, many pigskin faithful of the conservative ilk were outraged that the league was launching a campaign featuring the Rolling Stones, whose latest release, A Bigger Bang, features a scathing indictment of the Bush administration in the form of the track "Sweet Neo Con."
The Los Angeles Times suggested the league hasn't learned any lessons after suffering backlash in the wake of Janet Jackson's Super Bowl "wardrobe malfunction" incident last year or Nicollette Sheridan's towel-dropping segment preceding a Monday Night Football game last November.
Perhaps it's easier for the NFL to back West now that the Grammy-winning artist is the hottest thing in music.
His new album, Late Registration, will top the charts with sales close to 900,000 when Nielsen SoundScan releases its weekly report Wednesday.
Aside from West, Good Charlotte, Rihanna and Maroon 5 will also play the Opening Kickoff special, which takes place at the Los Angeles Coliseum Thursday. The free event begins at 2:30 p.m. PT, with portions airing live and on tape during the 5-6 p.m. pregame on ABC. The season kicks off at 6 p.m. with the Oakland Raiders taking on the New England Patriots.
Meanwhile, West is putting his words into action regarding Hurricane Katrina. He will perform on BET's S.O.S. (Saving Ourselves) benefit on Friday and then join the Stones, Kelly Clarkson and Paul McCartney for the ReAct Now: Music & Relief special on MTV, VH1 and CMT this Saturday.
For ABC's Primetime and Daytime shows, as well as our Movies and Specials and ABC Sports: Audience Relations Department at netaudr@abc.com
You can also let the NFL know your feelings on the subject at:
http://www.nfl.com/help/emailtech
Kayne West Debacle
I’m having a great time creating letters to send to your sponsors when you air the disgusting rapper Kanye West during the Monday night NFL game tonight. Your marketing acumen and management decisions are baffling.
It appears you didn’t learn a thing from the Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction. Kanye West is a disgrace and your decision to provide him with a stage is nothing short of idiotic.
I’ll send you a copy of the letters and list of advertisers I and hundreds (thousands) will contact after your faux pas.
They should definitely punt....
I think the NFL's definitely the 500 pound gorilla in this case. They do what they want, the faithful will always follow.
Sigh...
On the up side, looks like we'll have some more free time on our hands.
What am I calling?
Let's imagine for a moment that Mr. West began reading scripture during his detour from the teleprompter last week. NBC would have cut him off within nanoseconds, and ABC would have definitely given him the boot from tonight's pre-game "entertainment".
Hope he opens to a rousing "Bronx Cheer"
Wait - wasn't there someone else announced performing that everyone was up in arms over a few weeks ago?
This makes two huge debacles for the NFL...
and oh, I'll still watch the game but I'll boycott the sponsors.
Repugnant Kanye dares call himself a Christian and then spout off some racist, ignorant comments. One minute on MTV, will let you know where this country is going.
Most players are not any better than some of the evacuees.
For my part, I'm just not going to watch. I know I'm only one man but if we all did this the NFL would have to acknowledge that perhaps they made a mistake.
I love FB but one game won't ruin my day/week/year
You noticed that too eh? I guess racism is a one way street.
Entertainment!
That's not what I call that crap....
Mike
I remember a decade or so ago when the people of Arizona voted to not make Martin Luther King's birthday a paid state holiday. The NFL retaliated by yanking the Super Bowl away from Phoenix.
But now it seems okay that Kanye West can make race-related comments that have no basis in fact whatsoever and the NFL gives him a "pass."
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