Kanye West signing autographs in Los Angeles in 2007. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)

Kanye West made a rare public appearance during the weekend.  The scandalous rapper appeared on stage Saturday at the O2 Arena in London during Beyonce’s concert.   

West is featured on the remix version of Beyonce’s song titled “Ego,” and he performed his verse during the show.  No one booed during West’s performance, according to MTV News.  

Maybe that’s a sign people are finally starting to get over that incident with Taylor Swift.  The West’s performance is posted below in the sketchy video.

he appeared in a variety of skits and parodies including a skit about Kanye West, the television show “The View,” the movie “Twilight,” Kate Gosselin and her ex-boyfriend Joe Jonas. 

The clips are posted below. 

According to the Associated Press, the attorney told the court West would volunteer at the American Red Cross.  In return, all misdemeanor charges will be dismissed against West. 

The altercation stems from an incident that occurred at a Los Angeles airport Sept. 2008.

West and his manager Don Crawley were caught on tape taking a camera from a photographer and crashing it on the floor.

In case you didn’t see the video clip of the incident when I posted it last year, its posted below.

Kanye West performed while his late mother Donda West stood by in 2006 during a taping of the "Ellen DeGeneres Show." (AP Photo by Damian Dovarganes)

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a law in memory of rapper Kanye West’s mother.

The Donda West Law requires cosmetic surgery patients to undergo a physical examination before the surgery. 

Donda West died in 2007 after a cosmetic procedure.  She had coronary artery disease, but it was undiscovered because she didn’t undergo a physical exam before the surgery.

While she was alive, Kanye had a close relationship with his mother.  She accompanied him to several celebrity events, and she was always by his side on the red carpet. 

Shortly after her death, Kanye continued to perform during concerts, and I don’t think he had time to properly grief.  

I’m not making excuses for him, but maybe that’s why he’s prone to random outbursts.

Hip hop star 50 Cent clarified comments he made regarding Kanye West’s and Lady Gaga’s tour (which is now cancelled).

During an interview with hostess Angie Martinez on the Hot 97 radio station in New York, 50 Cent said Kanye is “cool with the gay folk.  I have nothing against them, but he’s cool with them. He goes, drops his video off to them.  Remember 808s & Heartbreak? Where’d he premiere it? The Ellen DeGeneres Show. He went there to premiere his video. He’s conscious of the gay community and wants them to buy his CDs.”

Some members of the gay community were upset that 50 Cent tried to make fun of Kanye’s connection to gay people. So, 50 Cent later released a statement on his Web site to clarify his comments.

The statement says “During an interview with Angie Martinez yesterday, certain comments I made were taken entirely out of context. When I referred to the Lady Gaga tour as ‘the gay tour,’ I was basically repeating what I thought she had referred to the tour in the past.  It was not my intention to offend anyone. I don’t have a problem with anyone’s lifestyle and have no issue with Lady Gaga. She makes great music.”

Kanye West dropped out of his joint ”Fame Kills” tour with Lady Gaga.  

Kanye and Gaga were expected to embark on a three-month tour together beginning in November.

The reason for Kanye’s cancellation is unknown, but I think it’s safe to assume the negative publicity surrounding Kanye after the MTV Video Music Awards incident had something to do with it.

Lady Gaga will tour without Kanye beginning next month in the same scheduled cities, but the dates will change.

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys perform their new song titled "Empire State of Mind" during the MTV Video Music Awards (AP photo by Jason DeCrow)

Everyone was so focused on Kanye West crashing Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech during the MTV Video Music Awards, that everyone seems to overlook that Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ performance was crashed too. 

While Jay-Z and Alicia were performing their duet to the song “Empire State of Mind” during the awards finale, rapper Lil Mama appeared out of nowhere, walked on the stage and stood next to them. 

Rapper Lil Mama apologizes for crashing Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' performance at the MTV Video Music Awards. Lil Mama is also a judge on "America's Best Dance Crew." (AP photo by Mark J. Terrill)

Radio personality Angie Martinez interviewed Jay-Z this week about the incident.   Jay-Z said “Me, personally, I would never do that.  I would never have the nerve to do that. It’s just like, someone’s up there performing, we went through rehearsals, we did run throughs and we worked really hard at the performance to put on a show for people and to interrupt that moment for us, you know, I don’t think that was the right thing to do. I actually thought it was the equivalent of what Kanye did to Taylor Swift.  And I’m cool with her being excited and all that but you have to understand, people put in work to make that performance happen, that took weeks.  I was a little angry to be honest, but what I’ma do, fight Lil Mama?”

Alicia Keys appeared on NBC’s Today Show and discussed the incident.  She said “I would rather not speak about it because the performance was so phenomenal it doesn’t even matter about anything else.  Jay-Z and I are native New Yorkers.  It’s kind of a classic New York song like new Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli.  I can appreciate her being overwhelmed and inspired but we would have preferred she did it from her seat.”

Lil Mama later released a statement apologizing to the performers.  She said 

“I did not mean any disrespect towards Jay-Z or Alicia Keys.  I admire them and look up to them as role models. ‘Empire State of Mind’ had my emotions running high. In that moment I came up onstage to celebrate my two icons singing about NY.”

It seems to me like Lil Mama just wanted some attention. She didn’t want to let Kanye West have all the attention for crashing the stage.

To watch the clip of Lil Mama crashing the stage during Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ performance, the video clip is posted below.  Fast forward the video to the five-minute mark.

In an interview with BBC Radio, Jay-Z said Kanye has always been passionate, but he was still rude to Taylor. 

Excerpts from the interview are posted below. 

“He’s just a super-passionate person, and of course it was rude because it was Swift’s moment, but that’s the way he really felt. But he’s been that passionate from his first record.”

“He used to jump on tables. I was trying to make the first Blueprint, he’s jumping on tables, rapping, and I’m like, ‘Yo, not now.’ That was just him. He’s always been that passionate.”

“I told him I think it was rude, and that he has to watch his passion. At the end of the day, we’re going to celebrate him for his passion more than vilify him for it because his passion, which caused him to make Graduation and all these great records, is the same thing that causes him to step out of line sometimes. So as he grows, he has to learn how to balance that. And he’ll learn that in years to come. That passion right there, that wasn’t fake or staged.  It was how he really felt, and it was just inappropriate. It wasn’t fair to Taylor.”

“I mean, it’s an awards show, really, and I think it’s a bit blown out.  He’s on the cover of every paper, he didn’t kill anybody. Nobody got harmed.  I don’t think he should lay low, I think he should go on tour and have a brilliant career. It’s an awards show.”

I agree with Jay-Z in paragraph above. Yes, it was rude and disrespecful, but no one was killed or physically harmed.  He didn’t beat up anyone like Chris Brown did. 

But, hopefully Kanye will listen to Jay-Z and learn to control his “passion.”

Meanwhile, Kanye is preparing to go on tour this fall and winter with pop singer Lady Gaga.  The tour kicks off Nov. 10 in Phoenix.  Click here for a list of the tour dates.

Tim McGraw said his daughters learned a lesson from Kanye West. 

In an interview with CMT, Tim McGraw said Kanye “shows himself to be an idiot every time he does stuff like that.  My girls were upset. But what he did do is provide a great example of how not to be, and my girls learned a big lesson.”

McGraw also said “when they weren’t looking I said,”He needs an a** whoopin.”

I agree Kanye does need a whoopin of some sort, and he was extremely rude and disrespectful toward Taylor Swift. 

But I think it’s time to move on.  He apologized to Taylor, and Taylor said he was gracious, she accepted his apology, and it’s in the past.

If Taylor has moved on, maybe we all should move on and let it go. Myself included.

Kanye West and his girlfriend Amber Rose attend the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards (AP photo by Peter Kramer)

Kanye West is going on tour later this year, and his tour dates have been announced.  His opening act will be eccentric pop star Lady Gaga. 

I know everyone is angry with Kanye because of his behavior at the MTV Video Music Awards, but I’m sure he will put on a good show, especially with Lady Gaga on tour with him. 

The tour kicks off Nov. 10 in Phoenix and concludes Jan. 24 in Dallas.  The complete tour dates are posted below.

11/10 – Phoenix, AZ @ US Airways Center

11/11 – San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena

11/13 – Las Vegas, NV @ Mandalay Bay Events Center

11/15 – Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center

Pop singer Lady Gaga attends the MTV Video Music Awards. She will be Kanye West's opening act for an upcoming tour (AP photo by Charles Sykes)

11/16 – Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center

11/18 – Sacramento, CA @ ARCO Arena

11/19 – San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion

11/24 – Vancouver, BC @ General Motors Place

11/26 – Calgary, AB @ Pengrowth Saddledome

11/28 – Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place

11/29 – Saskatoon, SK @ Credit Union Centre

12/2 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center

12/4 – St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center

12/ 9 – Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena

12/11 – Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena

12/12 – Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum Complex

12/13 – Norfolk, VA @ Scope

12/16 – Worcester, MA @ DCU Center

12/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wachovia Center

12/19 – Baltimore, MD @ 1st Mariner Arena

12/20 – Buffalo, NY @ HSBC Arena

12/22 – East Rutherford, NJ @ IZOD Center

12/26 – Hartford, CT @ XL Center

12/30 – Washington, DC @ Verizon Center

1/3 – Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum

1/6 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre

1/8 – Kanata, ON@ Scotiabank Place

1/11 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre

1/14 – Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills

1/16 – Chicago, IL @ United Center

1/19 – New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Arena

1/21 – San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center

1/22 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center

1/24 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center

The controversy involving Kanye West’s and Taylor Swift’s incident at the MTV Video Music Awards has penetrated the walls of the White House.

During an interview with CNBC, President Barack Obama called Kanye a “jackass” when asked about his thoughts on the ingredient. 

He said “I thought that was really inappropriate.  He’s a jackass.”

Although I agree Kanye was a “jackass” for rudely interrupting Taylor Swift’s speech, I was surprised the president of the United States weighed in on this issue. 

Since he’s juggling health care, fixing our terrible economy and managing a war overseas, who knew he had time to fit the Taylor Swift and Kanye West discussion into his busy schedule.

In Obama’s defense, he made the comment BEFORE the interview actually began, and he was unaware that it was going to be recorded.  He assumed it was off-the-record. 

TMZ obtained a leaked version of the audiotape, and the off-the-record transcript is posted below.

Interviewer: Were your girls as hacked off as mine were that Kanye gave Taylor Swift the Joe Wilson treatment?

Obama: “I thought that was really inappropriate. You know it was like she’s getting an award. Why are you butting in? I hear you. I agree with you.”

Interviewer: So does that count as the first question?

Obama: “The young lady seems like a perfectly nice person. She’s getting her award. What’s he doing up there? He’s a jackass. No, now this… all this stuff, I’m assuming all this stuff. Where’s the pool? Come on guys. Cut the president some slack. I got a lot of other stuff on my plate. Yeah. Cause I remember last time it was the fly thing.”

Interviewer: No that worked out well for you. You were a ninja.

Obama: Except PETA.

Leno asked Kanye about the MTV Video Music Awards incident where he snatched the microphone and interrupted country singer Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech.

Jay Leno also asked about what Kanye’s deceased mother would have thought about the incident.  The clip is posted below.

Pop singer Kelly Clarkson is the latest celebrity to have harsh words toward Kanye West after the incident with Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Clarkson wrote a lengthy blog on her Web site criticizing Kanye, and she used profanities too.   The full blog is posted below.

Dear Kanye,

“What happened to you as a child?? Did you not get hugged enough?? Something must have happened to make you this way and I think we’re all just curious as to what would make a grown man go on national television and make a talented artist, let alone teenager, feel like sh*t. I mean, I’ve seen you do some pretty shi**y things, but you just keep amazing me with your tactless, a**hole ways.”

“It’s absolutely fascinating how much I don’t like you. I like everyone. I even like my a**hole ex that cheated on me over you…which is pretty odd since I don’t even personally know you.”

“The best part of this evening is that you weren’t even up for THIS award and yet you still have a problem with the outcome. Is winning a moon man that much of a life goal?? You can have mine if it will shut you up. Is it that important, really??”

“I was actually nominated in the same category that Taylor won and I was excited for her…so why can’t you be?? I’m not even mad at you for being an a**hole…I just pity you because you’re a sad human being.”

“On a side note, Beyonce has always been a class act and proved again tonight that she still is. Go TEXAS!!

Taylor Swift, you outsell him ….that’s why he’s bitter. You know I love your work! Keep it up girl!”

From Kelly Clarkson

In a statement posted on his blog, Kanye said “I’m sooooo sorry to Taylor Swift and her fans and her mom,” he wrote. “I spoke to her mother right after and she said the same thing my mother would’ve said. She is very talented! I like the lyrics about being a cheerleader and she’s in the bleachers! I’m in the wrong for going on stage and taking away from her moment!”

“”Beyoncé’s video was the best of this decade!!!! I’m sorry to my fans if I let you guys down!!!! I’m sorry to my friends at MTV. I will apologize to Taylor 2mrw. Welcome to the real world!!!! Everybody wanna booooo me but I’m a fan of real pop culture!!! No disrespect but we watchin’ the show at the crib right now cause … well you know!!!! I’m still happy for Taylor!!!! Boooyaaawwww!!!! You are very very talented!!! I gave my awards to Outkast when they deserved it over me … That’s what it is!!!!!!! I’m not crazy y’all, i’m just real. Sorry for that!!! I really feel bad for Taylor and I’m sincerely sorry!!! Much respect!!!!!”

The video clip of Kanye interruping Taylor is posted below.