Matt Lauer on Kanye West's 'Today' Show Interview: 'Nothing Improper About It'

By Zach Dionne Posted Nov 11th 2010 12:45PM

Kanye West had a Twitter meltdown yesterday surrounding a taped appearance on the 'Today' show. This morning, we got to see what all the fuss was about.

In a fairly standard interview, Matt Lauer asks West about his "George Bush doesn't care about black people" line from 2005 and the Taylor Swift-VMA incident that got cries of racism flipped on Kanye himself.

While producers ran a clip of Kanye's microphone-grabbing stunt at the 2009 VMAs, the rapper stopped talking mid-sentence.

"Yo, how am I supposed to talk if you gonna run this thing in the middle, while I'm talking?" an affronted West asks. "Please don't let that happen again, it's like ridiculous."

Lauer stood by the interview in a closing segment, saying: "It's something we do every day -- when a guest is talking about an incident or a location, we run video of that," Lauer says. "There was nothing improper about it, nothing unusual about it whatsoever."

See the 'Today' show interview that caused Kanye to swear off media appearances:

Earlier in the interview, Lauer asks Kanye to look at George Bush's face in a clip before responding. "I didn't need you guys to show me the tape in order to like prompt my emotion to what I'm going to say," a visibly flustered Kanye says. He also asks some people off camera to "be quiet for a second."

"I came here to say that I made mistakes, that I've grown as a person," West says. "It's not as easy as boxing someone into a villain role or a race role. I did not have enough information in that situation to call [Bush] a racist."

"It sounds to me, not to oversimplify, what you're saying is, 'We're human, we make mistakes, but we have to learn from our mistakes,'" Lauer says. Kanye agrees.

Lauer closed on a conciliatory note: "We look forward to Kanye's return for a special live concert on the plaza on Friday, Nov. 26."

We're not so sure, based on Kanye's post-interview tweet:

Kanye tweet

UPDATE: Now we're positive 'Ye won't be returning to the 'Today' show for his post-Thanksgiving performance. Check the tweets:

Kanye Today Show tweet

What Did You Make of Kanye's Response? Tell Us on Facebook

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=892538&pid=892537&uts=1276080757

http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/music/?s_channel=us.musicpop&s_account=aolpopeater,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

Kanye West Photos

Kanye West waves to fans in Hollywood, California. More Kanye photos >>

Chris Wolf/FilmMagic.com

FilmMagic.com

Kanye West Snapshots

Kanye West Foundation Chief Executive Officer Joseph Collins (R) and Chicago Public School Chief Executive Officer Ron Huberman (second from right) are interviewed with students at the Kanye West Foundation's 3rd annual Stay in School event at the Farragut Career Academy on June 8, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Kanye West Foundation's 3rd Annual Stay In School Event Farragut Career Academy Chicago, IL United States June 8, 2010 Photo by Paul Warner/WireImage.com To license this image (60680843), contact WireImage.com

Kanye West Snapshots

Kanye West Foundation Chief Executive Officer Joseph Collins (R) and Chicago Public School Chief Executive Officer Ron Huberman (L) attend the Kanye West Foundation's 3rd annual Stay in School event at the Farragut Career Academy on June 8, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Kanye West Foundation's 3rd Annual Stay In School Event Farragut Career Academy Chicago, IL United States June 8, 2010 Photo by Paul Warner/WireImage.com To license this image (60680846), contact WireImage.com

Kanye West Snapshots

Musician Lupe Fiasco and musician/actor Common attend the luncheon on behalf of the Kanye West Foundation at Buca di Beppo Chicago on June 8, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. Kanye West Common & Lupa Fiasco Luncheon on Behalf of Kanye West Foundation Buca di Beppo Chicago Chicago, IL United States June 8, 2010 Photo by Barry Brecheisen/WireImage.com To license this image (60681258), contact WireImage.com

Kanye West Snapshots

CHICAGO - JUNE 08: Kanye West (L) and Common perform at the Kanye West Foundation's 3rd annual Stay in School event at the Farragut Career Academy on June 8, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kanye West;Common

Kanye West Snapshots

CHICAGO - JUNE 08: Common performs at the Kanye West Foundation's 3rd annual Stay in School event at the Farragut Career Academy on June 8, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Common

Kanye West Snapshots

FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2005 file photo, rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight is taken away by paramedics after he was shot in the leg at the Shore Club in Miami Beach, Fla. Knight, was shot once in the upper right leg by an unknown assailant at the star-studded party hosted by Grammy-wining hip hop artist Kanye West. More than four years later, Knight is claiming in a lawsuit that West and the Shore Club's owners failed to provide adequate security. Knight is seeking more than $1 million, including a 15-carat diamond earring he lost in the chaos. (AP Photo/Kim Tumey, File) NO SALES

Kanye West Snapshots

Singers Kanye West, Tony Bennett, Jennifer Hudson, Al Jardine, Jamie Foxx, Carlos Santana and others perform "We Are The World 25 Years for Haiti" pose for a group picture following the recording session held at Jim Henson Studios on February 1, 2010 in Hollywood, California. "We Are The World 25 Years For Haiti" Recording Session Jim Henson Studios Hollywood, CA United States February 2, 2010 Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com To license this image (59480499), contact WireImage.com

Kanye West Snapshots

Singers A.R. Rahman, Gladys Knight, will.i.am, Toni Braxton, Brian Wilson, Kanye West and others perform at the "We Are The World 25 Years for Haiti" recording session held at Jim Henson Studios on February 1, 2010 in Hollywood, California. "We Are The World 25 Years For Haiti" Recording Session Jim Henson Studios Hollywood, CA United States February 2, 2010 Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com To license this image (59480685), contact WireImage.com

Kanye West Snapshots

Singers Wyclef Jean, Kanye West and Jennifer Hudson perform at the "We Are The World 25 Years for Haiti" recording session held at Jim Henson Studios on February 1, 2010 in Hollywood, California. "We Are The World 25 Years For Haiti" Recording Session Jim Henson Studios Hollywood, CA United States February 2, 2010 Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com To license this image (59480534), contact WireImage.com

Kanye West Snapshots

Singers Natalie Cole, Kanye West and Jennifer Hudson perform "We Are The World 25 Years for Haiti" pose for a group picture following the recording session held at Jim Henson Studios on February 1, 2010 in Hollywood, California. "We Are The World 25 Years For Haiti" Recording Session Jim Henson Studios Hollywood, CA United States February 2, 2010 Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com To license this image (59480776), contact WireImage.com

Kanye West Snapshots

Tags: Kanye West, Matt Lauer, The Today Show

Comments

(725)

Thursday 11 November

By wolfarella

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I keep hearing this man speak,and I am unable to understand what he is saying. He is fortunate to be born in a time period where people find his music interesting. If not for God smiling on him, I doubt he would be much more than a another punk who ends up dead in an alley. That isn't to put a racist spin on this, it applies to anyone who isn't educated or who is stuck in the "It is because of...... I can't get ahead!!!" Whatever fill in the blank.

By Anna

God I am so sick of you!!!! Go away!!!! You are the worst person in the world!!! You think your poo doesnt stink...IT DOES!!! get over yourself!!!! You have done some really crappy things..yes people will ask you about it to fing bad!!!! You may have millions but you are NOTHING!!!!!!! I would rather be poor and loved by people then be you!!! Grow up!!!

By SirBrackalot

You're an idiot Kanye. Why don't you just crawl off and disappear somewhere....please.

By Dude

I feel like I am taking crazy pills.

Friday 12 November

By Karen

Vote down Vote up Report this

that made me laugh! Thanks!!

By Terrence

Great news,Kanye! You are NOTHING to me! :)

By KD

I will never understand why we care about ANY celebrities' politcal view points. Unless they are highly educated in politics, then I really don't care what they think about anyone or anything.

By jrod

I'm using my auto-tune voice for this... just go away dude, please, you haven't learned from your mistakes because you're still making them by being a self righteous attention getter! You don't like being interupted but you can do it to everyone else, go figure!

Saturday 13 November

By Coco

Kanye was VERY careful not to say he was sorry. He should be as careful every time he opens his mouth. He's not sorry for anything he does or says.

By Nina

Kanye is a bully. He needs to be put in his place.

By Rob Teter

God this man needs to get over it, it thinks that the whole world owes him something, yet right after what the did on the VMA's and things he doesn't get respect, until he gives it. Matt, done nothing wrong, because all it was for Kanye, was to get on TV, and look once again stupid.

By Real Talk

@ slash... Your not so great grand dad and his buddies were cowards to the nth degree. Surely you must know that they are the truly uneducated ones. To hate someone based purely on skin color is as ignorant as it gets; besides if you (they) feel so stongly against people of color then take your kinds own advice and quit telling people of color "go back to AFRICA" and go back to the caucus mountains where you originated from.

By clay

those on the left can get used to it! anyone from the right is treated that way as normal operating procedure. so how does it feel to be called a racist on national television? you like it? well guess what - you ARE! you proved it with your words and actions that night.

By Elsa

Greetings everyone: The one young man admits his mistake of calling our former president a racist~however, the press or the world is always there to bring up your past mistakes. Everyone else forgets but the media is happy to show you your mistakes.

By Wendy

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

I felt West shouldnt have said what he said about Bush. It was untrue. I also believe when he is trying his best to say he was wrong and has grown that we should give him the chance. He truly seems to be changed.

By Margie

I'm sorry Wendy but I disagree! Kayne is not grown up! He is an arrogant little brat who is used to getting his own way. Isn't the whole country trying to stand up against bullies? Don't you think Kayne is a bully? Shame on Kayne!

By Hope

"...I've grown as a person." Ha good one, Kanye. Just keep digging that hole.

By Theresa

Kanye needs to attend anger management therapy. He obviously doesn't have a filter between his brain and his mouth!

By Jim

Matt got one thing wrong. Bush said the Kanye incident was "one of the most disgusting moments of my presidency." Matt ran off a list of events that happened during Bush's 2 terms and then claimed Bush called the Kanye deal the worst moment in his presidency. It's subtle, but it is a misquote. There's an implication that Bush thinks what Kanye said about him is worse than 9/11, Katrina, the wars, or financial problems in our country. You got it wrong, Matt.

By j75player

he is such a looser its not even funny anymore.
(gay fish;)

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