Kanye West Disses President During Benefit Concert

Rapper Kanye West spoke harsh words about President Bush during an NBC telethon to raise money for those affected by Hurricane Katrina on the NBC network. West departed from the script but delivered words that many Americans can identify with.

The comments came during the live broadcast of 'A Concert for Hurricane Relief,' which was hosted by Matt Lauer. A total of 18 celebrities either spoke about the dire needs faced by people affected by the storm or performed to encourage people to donate funds.

West appeared approximately two-thirds of the way through the show and went off script while speaking with actor/comedian Mike Myers.

After Myers spoke of the need for aid, West deviated from his prepared lines by saying, 'I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a black family, it says they're looting. See a white family, it says they're looking for food.'

West admitted the National Guard is doing 'everything they can' but then declared said that government authorities are intentionally dragging their feet on aid to the Gulf Coast. Without getting specific, he added, 'They've given them permission to go down and shoot us.'

The controversial rapper also said America is set up 'to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off as slow as possible.'

When West said, 'George Bush doesn't care about black people,' the cameras quickly cut to comedian Chris Tucker and West was off the air.

A few minutes later, Lauer tried to cover for the comments made by West on the air. saying, 'emotions in this country right now are running very high. Sometimes that emotion is translated into inspiration, sometimes into criticism. We've heard some of that tonight. But it's still part of the American way of life.'

NBC later released a statement saying, 'Kanye West departed from the scripted comments that were prepared for him, and his opinions in no way represent the views of the networks.

'It would be most unfortunate,' the statement continued, 'if the efforts of the artists who participated tonight and the generosity of millions of Americans who are helping those in need are overshadowed by one person's opinion.'