Snoop Dogg has come under fire after a small town grocery store selling his wine displayed what some customers deemed offensive promo materials during Black History Month.
According to WSB-TV Channel 2, patrons at a Kroger on Peachtree Parkway in Peachtree City, Georgia were greeted by a life-size cutout of Snoop showcasing his wine brand 19 Crimes. The promotion was accompanied by bottles of bubbly from Tha Doggfather’s label along with Black Girl Magic wine, nearby in the produce section.
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But it was a bulletin board placed adjacent to the display featuring phrases like “Dream Like Martin” and “Say it loud, ‘I’m Black and I’m proud'” that sent shoppers into a tizzy — claiming that the overall message was a slap in the face during Black History Month.
“I just felt that it was offensive,” Johnnie Jones, a former president of the local NAACP told the WSB-TV. “They really promoting alcohol. Proud of drinking wine? “No. We’re proud of the Tuskegee Airmen whose shoulders I stand on,” he said, nodding the former commercial and military pilot.”
If he had it his way, Jones would have preferred the store recognized trailblazers like Atlanta’s first Black Mayor, Maynard Jackson, or Ed Johnson, the first Black Mayor of Fayetteville. “We need to be thirsty for knowledge,” he said.
Another customer, Michael Drummond, added: “It’s very negative.”
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Meanwhile, other customers saw nothing wrong with the ad stating: “I didn’t think there was anything wrong with showing a display of Snoop,” Pam Lewis explained. “I mean, if you want to drink wine whether it’s Black History Month or not it shouldn’t really make any difference.”
Following the backlash, managers of the store immediately pulled the promotion. “Kroger is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in all we do. Our intentions are never meant to be offensive,” Kroger’s corporate offices said in a statement.
Snoop’s team have not responded to the complaints.
In other news, Snoop was recently showered with love by longtime friend Martha Stewart, when she revealed she had taken their friendship to another level.
Stewart took to Instagram on February 10 with a photo that appeared to show her getting a tattoo of Snoop on her upper left arm. The portrait included the words “My Dogg” underneath it.
“My Dogg! Thanks for the amazing tattoo @scottcampbell. Forever linked in ink to my favorite @snoopdogg,” Stewart captioned her picture.
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At first, fans weren’t sure whether or not the tattoo was permanent, but once the Super Bowl aired on the following Sunday (February 12), it was made clear it wasn’t a real tattoo and instead part of a Sketchers ad.
