Kanye West cancels tours with Lady Gaga

Giant national concert promoters Live Nation announced early Thursday evening that Chicago hip-hop superstar Kanye West has canceled his upcoming “Fame Kills” Tour with pop phenom Lady Gaga, which was to have stopped at the United Center on Jan. 16.

Live Nation noted that “refunds are available at the point of purchase” and that “tickets purchased online and via phone will be refunded automatically.” But no reason for the cancellation was given.

Earlier Thursday, the Web site MediaTakeOut.com reported that Lady Gaga was the one who wanted out of the national jaunt. Meanwhile, several other publications are reporting that before West rushed the stage and interrupted an acceptance speech by Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards, he was filmed drinking cognac straight from the bottle, and that he may be heading to rehab.

West made the most emotional album of his career late last year after ending his engagement and suffering the death of his mother. But several musicians who are close to the star say that while he has remained prolific–last week, he had produced tracks for three of the Top 10 albums on the Billboard chart–his emotional state has been “fragile.”