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.
I mean, I know how asinine it is for the rappers to talk about mistreating women, drugs, gangs, violence and murder, so on and so forth, and then whenever they win an award, they always thank God first.
But if Kanye has actually stated publicly he is a Christian, then he is a liar.
This outrage needs to be direct at the sponsors of the broadcast. That'll get the attention of the league idiots that put this half time show together.
Patriot fans will BOO this guy big time!
How dare you use Aqua Teen Hunger Force to describe Kanye? Shake is very upset with you.
So will this Raider fan...
He markets himself that way! I saw him no a news interview and have read interviews with him in which he cites his love of God and his Christian faith. I will look for them and post them (haven't figured out how to post yet). Someone else here might have copy or video/audio of him declaring these things while leaving all those wonderful words in his songs that would have you washing your kids mouths out with soap
bttt
But it fit so well..."George Bush doesn't care about arachnids!"
I kind of think the NFL is stuck between a rock and hard place. Many people would be up in arms if it seemed they were punishing West for exercising his right to free speech.
The Gall Stones are having trouble getting airplay for their
new single.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1480376/posts
Sorry about that...NFL phone #
These people are idiots. They are trying to appeal to two completely different audiences. Most football fans have no desire to see these so-called performers.
Well, that's it.
No - no no NO - NFL for me this season.
Rush wasn't fired by the NFL, he resigned his position on ESPN. Why are folks on here calling for boycotting football over a statement made by an entertainer? I don't agree with West's statement but I'm not going to give up football over it. Some of you take this boycott thing way too far. If you don't like West boycott him not football.
They'll write it off as an opinion malfunction.....
If you don't think most raider fans are on West's side of this, you obviously haven't spent much time in Oakland.
I don't think he had a choice. There are two different organizations, but the illustration of one way racism is still intact.
A simple, honest, unscripted, unclintonian apology from West would be all the comment he needs to make.
I'm really sick and tired of this whole mindset that allows blacks like this punk to shoot their mouths off incessantly, make all kinds of racist remarks and get zero flack from the MSM......this double standard is total BS. Oh, that's right blacks can't be racist because they're not "empowered".....never mind that many are huge media and entertainment stars and they dominate major pro sports as well as the fact that their middle class is larger than ever.......whatta a load of pure crap.
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