Snoop Dogg is the latest rapper to come under
fire from Fox’s Bill O’Reilly. On Friday’s (September 27) "O’Reilly Factor,"
the host blasted Snoop Dogg, NBC and Jim Henson Productions, the producers of
"A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie," for including the rapper because
of his checkered past.
"What the heck is rapper Snoop Dog doing
in a Muppet Christmas special?" O’Reilly asked. "Should a guy who
has also been in p### films, was recently cleared of a murder charge and has
a past filled with violence, really be appearing in a program designed for little
kids?"
Snoop, who was cleared of murder charges almost
10 years ago, and has a part in the Christmas special talking with Kermit The
Frog, said he accepted the role because he wanted to do something positive for
the kids. Snoop also revealed to AllHipHop.com that he was giving up his old
vices. "I said ‘Let me stop smoking dope so I can get a better vision of
myself, see who I am and what I mean to the world," What I mean to my kids
and what I mean to life in general’."
O’Reilly said that while he acknowledged that
Snoop has confessed to changing his old ways, it was too late because he had
already corrupted "millions of children."
O’Reilly also blasted Macy’s for carrying Snoop
Dogg clothing and a small "civil rights group," Project Islamic HOPE
is calling for a national boycott of Macy’s until the department store pulls
the clothing line off the rack.
“We strongly believe that Snoop Dogg’s gangsta
rap music has always glorified gang violence, drug use, and misogyny and that
should not be supported," the group’s founder, Najee Ali said. "His
recent appearance in P#### videos by Hustler, is immoral. We will not support
a p#### star (Snoop Dogg) working on projects that influence children. Any sponsor
that supports the muppets show starring Snoop Dogg will also be targeted. Protests
outside of NBC Studios and Macys will begin next week.”
Interestingly, Snoop appeared on Fox’s#### cartoon
series, "King Of The Hill" in February to celebrate the shows 100th
episode. In that episode, which is titled "Ho Yeah," Snoop portrayed
a pimp named Alabaster Jones. Fox’s official
website described the episode.
"Hank is horrified when Peggy befriends
Tammi Duvall, the ditzy new employee at Strickland Propane. Peggy invites Tammi
to live with the Hill’s while she tutors her for the G.E.D. Hank eventually
warms up to Tammi and even tries to set her up with some of the single guys
on his propane route. Unbeknownst to Hank, Tammi is a prostitute and everyone
in town starts thinking Hank is her pimp. But real trouble ensues when her old
pimp, Alabaster Jones, shows up looking for her on the "Ho’ Yeah"
episode of KING OF THE HILL." Fox also deemed this episode acceptable for
ages 14 and older.
In related news, Snoop Dogg recently worked out
with the Raiders last week for a TV show the rapper is developing with MTV.
The show, "Doggy Fizzle Televizzle," which is still in production,
"is me being me, doing what I do, skits, real-life situations," Snoop
revealed.