Snoop Dogg seems to have the backlash from his inauguration performance on his mind.
The “Drop It Like It’s Hot” rapper, 53, in an Instagram video on Sunday appeared to respond to criticism he received for performing at the Inaugural Crypto Ball, an event celebrating President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
In the clip, Snoop Dogg listened to the song “Ain’t No Need to Worry” in a car and told followers, “For all the hate, I’m gonna answer it with love. Y’all can’t hate enough on me. I love too much.”
He continued, “Get your life right. Stop worrying about mine. I’m cool. I’m together. Still a Black man. Still 100% Black.”
“You can be up one minute, and they’ll try to pull you down the next,” he added later in the video. “But I’m a strong Black man. I’m cut from a different cloth. Can’t tear me down.”
The rapper did not directly tie his remarks to the inauguration backlash, but fans certainly took it that way. The post received a flood of negative comments from followers who remained disappointed that he performed at the event.
Snoop Dogg performs during the Black Music Collective Grammy Week 2023 Celebration event on Feb. 2, 2023 in Los Angeles.
“Lost all respect,” one comment read, while another said, “Snoop you disappointed us. We been riding with you since we were kids. This one hurts for real.” Still others defended him, with one follower commenting, “He can perform for whoever he want leave him alone.”
Snoop Dogg under fire for performance at crypto event celebrating Trump inauguration
Snoop Dogg performed at the Inaugural Crypto Ball in Washington, D.C., three days before Trump’s swearing-in. The event was intended “to honor the 60th Presidential Inauguration, America’s first ‘crypto president,’ President elect Donald J. Trump, his incoming cabinet and administration,” according to its website. While Trump wasn’t in attendance, the president’s crypto czar David Sacks served as emcee.
Fans were surprised Snoop Dogg chose to participate in the event after he said in 2017 that he would “roast” any artist who performed at Trump’s first inauguration. He previously spoke out against the president and even shot a clown dressed like Trump in a 2017 music video.
Snoop Dogg attends the Global Affair pre-Grammys party on Feb. 3, 2024, in Los Angeles.
Snoop Dogg also said in a 2020 interview on Real 92.3 that he would vote in that year’s presidential election “because I can’t stand to see this punk in office one more year.”
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Since then, he appears to have had a change of heart. In a 2024 interview with The Sunday Times, he said, “I have nothing but love and respect for Donald Trump.”
Snoop Dogg wasn’t the only artist who received backlash for an inauguration performance, as Carrie Underwood also faced criticism for performing at Trump’s swearing-in ceremony. She has not addressed the backlash but said in a previous statement, “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”
Contributing: Douglas Gillison, Suzanne McGee and Michelle Price, Reuters
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Snoop Dogg seemingly responds to Trump inauguration backlash
