Outspoken rapper Kanye West has not been banned from Friday's "Hope For Haiti" telethon.
Internet rumors claimed that West, 32, was not invited to participate because he criticized then-President Bush during a televised 2005 Concert for Hurricane Relief ("George Bush doesn't care about black people," he said) and for interrupting Taylor Swift's 2009 MTV Video Music Awards speech. "Kayne has to make everything about himself. He will do anything to steal the spotlight and, well, this night it's just not about him," a source told AOL's Popeater.
But a rep for MTV tells UsMagazine.com: "That's absolutely not true. We DID reach out to Kanye."
Access Hollywood reports that West didn't respond.
Who will be at Friday's telethon?
President Bill Clinton, Brad Pitt, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Clint Eastwood, Leonardo DiCaprio, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jon Stewart, Will Smith with Muhammad Ali, Robert Pattinson, Tom Hanks and more.
Among the performers: Madonna, Beyonce, Wyclef Jean, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Shakira, Sting, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Sheryl Crow, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow, Coldplay, Bono, The Edge, Jay-Z and Rihanna.
The telethon airs on a number of networks — including ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, BET, The CW, HBO, MTV, VH1, CMT, PBS, TNT, Showtime, COMEDY CENTRAL, Bravo and E! — and online and mobile platforms at 8 PM EST. Performances from the show will be available on iTunes, with proceeds going to charity.
Hope for Haiti Now will begin accepting donations at 12:00 p.m. ET/9:00 a.m. PT on Friday via the following methods:
Online: www.hopeforhaitinow.org
Phone: 877-99-HAITI Text:
Text “GIVE” to 50555
Mail: Hope For Haiti Now Fund Entertainment Industry Foundation
1201 West 5th Street
Suite T-700
Los Angeles, CA 90017