The Weeknd cancels 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' gig to avoid Donald Trump

The Weeknd and his frequent collaborator Belly have just cancelled their scheduled performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to avoid appearing in the same episode with the Republican front runner Donald Trump.

Rapper Belly, who co-wrote much of ''Beauty Behind the Madness", was due to perform with The Weeknd, and explained their absence in a statement, reported Variety.

"I feel like the way I was raised was to be able to see through all the titles in this world - from religion to race," Belly said. "I just didn't want to feel like I was a part of a celebration for somebody who has beliefs that majority of us don't agree with."

Trump has been heavily criticised for his opinions on a lot of things including immigrants and Muslims. Belly, a Muslim Canadian who has worked on some big hits like The Weeknd's Oscar-nominated "Earned It", added, "For me, being Muslim and being somebody that appreciates my access here in America, I love the fact that I'm able to be here. To play my part in this business is a privilege and a beautiful thing. The fact that I could lose that ability through the actions of someone such as Donald Trump isn't right to me. At all," he concluded.

The Weeknd and Belly were supposed to tape their performance on May 25 in Los Angeles. They were set to perform "Might Not" of the latter's new mixtape, "Another Day in Paradise", which is due out on Friday.