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| by rocafan on 9/07/2005 07:24:00 AM |
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Kanye Still A Go For NFL Kick Off
Source:allhiphop.com
The NFL and ABC have decided to keep rapper Kanye West as a performer in the season-opening sho, despite media criticism of comments West made during a live NBC telethon to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
West appeared on “A Concert for Hurricane Relief” along side other celebrities. While West was at the podium with comedian Mike Myers, he deviated from the script and criticized the United States government’s response to African-Americans after the hurricane, which left hundreds of thousands of people displaced.
West concluded his unscripted comments by saying “[President] George Bush doesn’t care about Black people.” NBC quickly cut away from West and censored West's speech out of the West coast rebroadcast which aired three hours later.
West will perform as scheduled with Maroon 5 at the Los Angeles Coliseum during the league’s opening show, which will air on rival network, ABC Thursday (September 8).
A spokesman for the league said that West had expressed his opinion and that performers were selected for entertainment purposes and not their political beliefs.
West’s performance with Maroon 5 will be taped 20 minutes before the NFL opener and will be then be mixed into the live broadcast.
The NFL is producing concerts in Los Angeles, California, Detroit, Michigan and Foxborough, Massachusetts and will also feature Trisha Yearwood, The Rolling Stones and Green Day.
Both ABC and the NFL have tried to avoid controversy since Janet Jackson’s infamous breast incident on CBS.
ABC also came under fire because of a sexually charged “Desperate Housewives” introduction staring The Eagles’ Terrell Owens and ABC's “Desperate Housewives” star Nicollette Sheridan.
The Eagles and ABC later issued apologies for the spot. The NFL Opening Kickoff 2005 takes place Thursday, Sept. 8 at 8 p.m ET.
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