Los Angeles, California (CNN) — A year after President Obama called Kanye West “a jackass” for his antics at the MTV Video Music Awards, the rapper has a chance to prove he’s changed.
West is set to perform at the 2010 awards show Sunday night, but host Chelsea Handler wouldn’t reveal if he will be paired up with Taylor Swift, the girl-next-door singer whose acceptance speech he interrupted last year.
“He’s performing, so I’m sure he’ll make some ode to the situation or somebody’s going to have to say something and that somebody might be me,” Handler said.
Handler said she has no West-Swift gags already planned. “I’m just going to kind of wing it,” she said.
MTV producers would not confirm swirling speculation that Swift would perform with West — or that she would sing a song about him.
Even if West is on his best behavior, there are other opportunities for misbehavior.
Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and her “Jersey Shore” cast mates will present an award. Snooki is fresh off a court appearance for bad behavior in Seaside Heights, New Jersey.
Other presenters with more polite reputations include Cher, Ellen DeGeneres, Katy Perry and the cast of “Glee.”
Teen singing sensation Justin Bieber will take the stage outside of the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
Other performers during the show include Usher, Linkin Park, Eminem, Drake, Paramore, B.o.B, Florence + The Machine.
Last year’s show is remembered mostly for what was not planned.
West, who walked the red carpet with a bottle of cognac in his hand, jumped on stage after Swift was announced the winner over Beyonce in one category.
“Taylor, I’m really happy for you, and I’m gonna let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time,” he said, snatching the microphone from Swift after she had won her award.
Swift stood onstage, speechless, clutching her award. The cameras panned to a shocked Beyonce, while the audience booed and later chanted “Taylor.”
Though Beyonce later afforded the teen singer another opportunity to finish her speech, the West backlash had begun.
The backlash against West cost him his spot on a concert tour with Lady Gaga. And it earned a few choice critical remarks from the president, who was recorded in an interview using the “jackass
