Kanye West has apparently decided not to attend tonight's MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs).

According to Mail Online, the rapper decided to pull out of the event at the last minute because his girlfriend Kim Kardashian can't make it.

Kim is reportedly scheduled to attend Fashion's Night Out in New York, meaning she will miss out on the Los Angeles awards ceremony.

"Kim's in New York for her fragrance launch and Kanye didn't want to go to the VMAs if she couldn't be there," a source told the British website.

Kanye is in the running for several awards at this year's event.

It was expected he would be present as he and Kim featured in an advert to promote the event with the show's host Kevin Hart.

Earlier this week, Kevin even promised not to deliver any wisecracks about Kanye or Kim during the ceremony.

"That's my guy, and he did a favour for me, so I can't really tease him right now," Kevin explained to ET Online. "He definitely came through in a last minute crunch for me and poured out that commercial, which was funny and cool. So, no, Kanye is off-limits. I won't tease him. [He] and Kim are off the starting block. They're OK."