(Joshua Paladino, Headline USA) The Recording Academy told rapper Kanye West that he “unfortunately” cannot perform at the 2022 Grammy Awards “due to what they deem to be concerning online behavior,” Variety reported.
West’s representative confirmed the story, but the Recording Academy and CBS, which host the Grammy Awards, have not commented on the story.
The Blast reported that West’s representatives were not “surprised” by the sudden cancellation for the awards, which “The Daily Show” star Trevor Noah will host on April 3.
Some have speculated that the Grammy Awards cancelled West because he has a confrontational relationship with Noah, while others believe that West’s Christianity and support for former President Donald Trump got him cancelled.
West called Noah a “koon,” a reference to a black race traitor, in a now-deleted tweet after Noah commented on West’s fitful divorce with his former wife Kim Kardashian.
“I’ll be honest with you — what I see from the situation is a woman who wants to live her life without being harassed by an ex-boyfriend or an ex-husband or an ex-anything,” Noah said about their relationship.
Noah does not support West’s removal from the Grammys lineup.
I said counsel Kanye not cancel Kanye.
— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) March 20, 2022
Rapper The Game defended West’s right to perform at the Grammys.
“Speak your mind in this country for yourself, family or your people & you’re ostracized immediately & if you push them hard enough they will stop at no ends to try and put an end to you as a whole,” he said in an Instagram post.
Billie Eilish, BTS, Lil’ Nas X, Olivia Rodrigo, and Jack Harlow will perform at the Grammys.
West also posted a video that showed SNL actor Pete Davidson being kidnapped and buried up to his neck, which could have contributed to the cancellation, Variety reported.
