In related news, hip hop star Kanye West has courted controversy by adding his voice to those who are criticising President Bush for his response to Hurricane Katrina, accusing the White House of being slow to respond because those worst hit by the natural disaster were black people.
West was performing at a televised benefit event designed to raise funds to support those affected by the hurricane. Clearly deviating from his prepared script, West told his audience: "George Bush doesn't care about black people. 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". Although he admitted that "the Red Cross is doing everything they can", he claimed that the authorities were deliberately holding up getting aid to the Southern states.
West's comments went out live on TV stations showing the event on the US East Coast, but were edited out of the version screened on the West Coast. A spokesman for NBC, who screened the fundraiser, told reporters: "It would be most unfortunate if the efforts of the artists and the generosity of millions of Americans are overshadowed by one person's opinion".