Bush forgives Kanye West for calling him a racist

By Holly Bailey

It looks like George W. Bush and Kanye West have buried the hatchet—at least for now.
In a taped interview on NBC's "Today" show, the often-impulsive rapper told Matt Lauer that he now regrets having said after Hurricane Katrina that Bush "doesn't care about black people."
"I would tell George Bush: In my moment of frustration, I didn't have the grounds to call him a racist," West said. "I believe that in a situation of high emotion like that, we as human beings don't always choose the right words."
[Photo: Bush calls memorable Katrina image a 'huge mistake']
In Bush's new memoir, "Decision Points," Bush calls the moment "disgusting" and the lowest ebb of his presidency.
Appearing separately on "Today," Bush, upon seeing a video of West's remarks, replied, "I appreciate that." But he added: "It wasn't just Kanye West who was talking like that during Katrina. I cited him as an example."
[Photos: Iconic images of President George W. Bush]
Asked if he forgives West, Bush said "absolutely."
"I'm not a hater. I don't hate Kanye West," he said. "But I was talking about an environment in which people were willing to say things that hurt. Nobody wants to be called a racist, if in your heart you believe in the equality of race."
It's a little unclear how sorry West really is. He has said repeatedly over the last week that he's "empathetic" toward Bush--but the rapper took to Twitter on Tuesday to criticize NBC. He said (in all capital letters) that Lauer  "tried to force my answers."
[Photos: Hauting images of Hurricane Katrina]
He continued: "It was very brutal, and I came there with only positive intent"

Bush ABC Interview: Being Called A Racist By Kanye West The Worst Moment Of My Presidency

The first excerpts of former President George W. Bush's interview with NBC New's Matt Lauer were released on Tuesday night. And what stands among the noteworthy bits about Bush's political mindset in the moment of existential crises is that, for all that happened, his low point was being called racist by Kanye West.
From the interview, which will air Monday, November 8, 2010 at 8 p.m. ET on "Matt Lauer Reports" in advance of the release of Bush's book "Decision Points."

MATT LAUER: About a week after the storm hit NBC aired a telethon asking for help for the victims of Katrina. We had celebrities coming in to ask for money. And I remember it vividly because I hosted it. And at one part of the evening I introduced Kanye West. Were you watching? PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: Nope.
MATT LAUER: You remember what he said?
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: Yes, I do. He called me a racist.
MATT LAUER: Well, what he said, "George Bush doesn't care about black people."
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: That's -- "he's a racist." And I didn't appreciate it then. I don't appreciate it now. It's one thing to say, "I don't appreciate the way he's handled his business." It's another thing to say, "This man's a racist." I resent it, it's not true, and it was one of the most disgusting moments in my Presidency.

MATT LAUER: This from the book. "Five years later I can barely write those words without feeling disgust." You go on. "I faced a lot of criticism as President. I didn't like hearing people claim that I lied about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction or cut taxes to benefit the rich. But the suggestion that I was racist because of the response to Katrina represented an all time low."
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: Yeah. I still feel that way as you read those words. I felt 'em when I heard 'em, felt 'em when I wrote 'em and I felt 'em when I'm listening to 'em.
MATT LAUER: You say you told Laura at the time it was the worst moment of your Presidency?
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: Yes. My record was strong I felt when it came to race relations and giving people a chance. And-- it was a disgusting moment.

Kanye West's comment -- which was made, ironically, on NBC during a telethon fundraiser for victims of Hurricane Katrina - quickly became an indelible moment of Bush's second term. And while it was obviously rare and off-putting for a rap star to insist that the president didn't care about black people, it's also somewhat unexpected that that would be Bush's personal, political nadir.

David Arquette: I Had Extramarital Sex With Multiple Women, It Made Me Cry

David Arquette went on Howard Stern's Sirius Satellite Radio show the day after he and Courtney Cox announced their separation to tell all about their five-month dry spell and his rebound sex with waitress Jasmine Waltz. He quickly apologized over Twitter for sharing too much.
On Wednesday he returned to Stern's show to share more. He revealed (via ET Online) that he and Courteney do not have a prenup and since they split, he has had sex with at least one more woman other than Jasmine--an Australian blonde.
"I'm pretty sure I'm up sh**'s creek right now," he said.
David also admitted he cried when having sex with someone other than his wife (presumably Jasmine) for the first time.
"After the first girl I slept with ... a few days later ... I was, like, crying," he said. "It was the end of all the intimacy I shared with my wife. It was like a new thing. It was like ... putting that away."
He answered indirectly when asked about rumors that Courteney is dating her 'Cougar Town' costar Brian Van Holt.
"Any guy would be blessed to be with her," he said. "I don't have any hard feelings for anyone. This is life and we are just going through it publicly."

Later Wednesday morning David appeared on 'Live with Regis and Kelly' and said he never cheated and there is a chance he and Courteney will get back together.
"I was faithful to my wife for 11 years, completely devoted," he said. "We had been separated for a while and we didn't want to make that public, so it wouldn't be a big deal. But we also had an agreement that we could date other people. I didn't want to be labeled as a cheater."

Chelsea Handler and 50 Cent Spotted Out Again

Chelsea Handler has denied dating 50 Cent, but for some reason, the two keep spending time together ... and get photographed while doing it.

The Chelsea Lately hostess and rapper were snapped lunching and walking in Malibu this weekend, marking the third time they've been photographed side-by-side. The first time, they were seen sitting close together in a lounge.

Handler responded to the dating rumors via Twitter, saying on October 6 that all the speculators should "calm down." She declared:

"Everyone, calm down. I met with mr. Cent about a potential project. There's nothing to report yet, ill let you know if there is.

50 was a bit more mysterious, fighting back a big old smile when asked by TMZ about the possibility of being Chelsea's squeeze.

Charlie Sheen Files For DIVORCE From Brooke Mueller

LOS ANGELES — Charlie Sheen filed to end his marriage to his third wife Monday and stated in documents that the couple separated the same day as a Christmas 2009 altercation that led to assault charges against the veteran actor.
The divorce came less than a week after the "Two and a Half Men" star was briefly hospitalized in New York City after security at a luxury hotel reported he was being disorderly.
Sheen cited irreconcilable differences for the divorce and indicated in court filings in Los Angeles that the couple have a prenuptial agreement. He and Brooke Mueller Sheen were married in May 2008 and have twin sons together.
He is seeking joint custody, but is asking a judge not to award his wife any spousal support.
Within hours, Brooke Sheen had filed her own petition for divorce, seeking sole custody of the former couple's sons and spousal support. Her filing did not offer any additional details, but also cited Christmas as the date of separation.
The divorce was first reported Monday by People magazine's website.
Sheen, 45, pleaded guilty in Aspen, Colo., in August to misdemeanor third-degree assault after a Christmas Day altercation with Mueller Sheen. He listed the couple's separation date as the date of the fight.
Prosecutors dropped more serious charges and he avoided jail time, instead receiving 30 days in a rehabilitation center, 30 days of probation and 36 hours of anger management.
Mueller Sheen told police the actor threatened to kill her and brandished a knife after she told him she wanted a divorce. Charlie Sheen said the two argued, but he denied threatening her and told police he was upset by the divorce threat.
Last Tuesday, the actor was hospitalized after security at the Plaza Hotel in New York City reported he was disorderly and had broken furniture in his room.
Sheen appeared highly intoxicated when officers arrived at his room around 1:30 a.m., and a woman with him said they had been out drinking and partying that night, according to a law enforcement official.
The woman said Sheen was yelling and tossing furniture when they returned to the room, said the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the encounter and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Sheen's publicist, Stan Rosenfield, said the actor had an adverse reaction to medication. Sheen was released from the hospital the same day.
Sheen is on a family vacation with ex-wife Denise Richards and the former couple's two children. Their divorce was highly contentious at first but resolved amicably in 2006.
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Associated Press Writer Colleen Long contributed to this report.