Having Kanye West, probably the most famous rapper on the face of the planet, play the inauguration should be a no-brainer for Donald Trump and his team.
West has, after all, met with the president-elect at Trump Tower, claimed that he would have voted for him and has generally been vocal in his support of the walking mouthpiece that will become the 45th POTUS tomorrow.
However, it seems that the reason given for the Inauguration Committee not even asking West to play has stirred up quite a bit of controversy and fanned the flames of the racial tension in the US.
Speaking to CNN, Inauguration Committee chairman Tom Barrack insinuated that West wasn't 'traditionally American' enough' to play. "You know, we haven’t asked him. He’s been great, he considers himself a friend of the President-Elect, but it’s not the venue," he said.
He added: "The venue we have for the entertainment is filled out — it’s perfect. It’s going to be typically and traditionally American, and Kanye is a great guy, we just haven’t asked him to perform. And we move on with our agenda.”
Given the fact that Michael Flatley - you know, the famous Irish dancer - has reportedly been booked to play, you could call that a slap in the face.
Watch it below:
VIDEO: OUCH!!! ðŸ'¥ðŸ'ŠðŸ?»ðŸŽƒ Trump Rejects Kanye!!! They wanted "Traditionally American"...turns out KKK doesn't dig rap 😳 pic.twitter.com/Mr5emLBnsR
— Trump's ZombieLand (@StevenReyCristo) January 19, 2017
The idea that Toby Keith is traditionally American and Kanye isn't ... that's that pervasive racism that runs thru this country that ppl
— Alf (@Alf954) January 19, 2017
"Is Kanye performing?"
"Well, no, we haven't asked him. We are keeping it typically, traditionally American"
I died 😂😂😂😂😂— Peachessssss (@Liberiangyal) January 19, 2017
Kanye West wasn't even asked to perform at The Circus of the Stars Inauguration b/c, well, "It's going to be traditionally American"
— Lesley Abravanel (@lesleyabravanel) January 19, 2017
I guess Flately is more 'traditionally American' than Kanye. 😊
— Lolu Aderemi (@rdtai) January 19, 2017
Tom Barrack on #cnn said they wanted traditionally American inauguration acts so no Kanye. Is anyone confused about that means?
— Tess (@MsTess78) January 17, 2017