Snoop Dogg under fire for performance at crypto event celebrating Trump inauguration
Some Snoop Dogg fans are ready to drop him like he's hot after a controversial appearance.
The rapper, 53, on Friday performed at an event in Washington, D.C., where cryptocurrency executives celebrated the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
The Inaugural Crypto Ball, held at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, billed itself on its website as an event "intended to honor the 60th Presidential Inauguration, America's first 'crypto president,' President elect Donald J. Trump, his incoming cabinet and administration."
The event did not feature an appearance from the president-elect himself, but Trump's incoming crypto czar David Sacks served as emcee for the gala.
On social media, Trump critics were outraged by the "Drop It Like It's Hot" rapper's participation in the Crypto Ball ahead of Monday's swearing-in ceremony.
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"It's time to throw @SnoopDogg in the dumpster with the rest of Trump's white supremacist, insurrectionist allies," one X post said.
"I have deleted all Snoop dogg songs from my playlists.. i have blocked him from my accounts," another X user wrote.
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Snoop Dogg for comment.
Many critics accused Snoop Dogg of hypocrisy by pointing to a 2017 clip where the rapper said he would "roast" any artist who was willing to perform for Trump at his inauguration.
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The rapper has also spoken negatively about Trump in the past. In a 2020 interview, he declared that although he had never voted before, he would turn out in that year's election because he wanted Trump out of the White House.
"I think I'm going to get out and vote because I can't stand to see this punk in office one more year," he told Big Boy's Neighborhood on Real 92.3.
But Snoop Dogg later praised Trump in a 2024 interview with the Sunday Times, saying he has "nothing but love and respect" for the former president.
"Donald Trump? He ain't done nothing wrong to me," he said. "He has done only great things for me."
In recent days, country singer Carrie Underwood has similarly been facing criticism for announcing she will perform at Trump's inauguration on Monday.
But Whoopi Goldberg defended Underwood on "The View," telling viewers, "I stand behind her. If I believe I have the right to make up my mind to go perform someplace, I believe they have the same right. So I have to support (her)."
Contributing: Douglas Gillison, Suzanne McGee and Michelle Price, Reuters; Rasha Ali, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Snoop Dogg performs at Trump inauguration event, faces backlash