Or OP can simply say, "You don't want me involved."

It sounds harsh, but I had an old coworker who I though liked me and my work say this to me.

Yeah, it hurt my feelings, but whatever, ultimately I appreciated the honesty and left him out of it.

I got the job and excellent at it (excellent performance reviews and raises). I still have to work with the guy who didn't want to give me a reference.

It's fine. We have seriously different work styles, which I assume is why he didn't want to givee a reference.

But I dont hold a grudge, and we work fine together until we have a work style clash, which we just work through.

Out workstation difference is that I'm hypertension detail focused and don't take major risks.

He's a big picture, risk taker type.

Sometimes its.frustrating as hell to working together. But I think it ultimately brings us both into balance.

TLDR; Just be honest about it. If someone gets their undies in a wad becauee you don't think they are perfec...it's in them.