Let’s take a very needed moment to discuss the Gayle King, Snoop Dogg, and Kobe Bryant brouhaha.
Current Events
In case you’ve been living under a rock, CBS THIS MORNING host (and Oprah bestie) Gayle King conducted an interview last week with former WNBA star Lisa Leslie to discuss the very recent and very tragic helicopter crash death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant. In a promo clip from the network (which aired multiple times last week), King was perceived as pressing Leslie to disparage Bryant for his previous sexual assault case from 2003 — a move that didn’t sit well with many Kobe fans.
“It’s been said that his legacy is complicated because of a sexual assault charge. Is it complicated for you as a woman, as a WNBA player?” King asked. Responding that it was not at all complicated for her, Leslie made it clear that in all of her dealings with her friend, Kobe, she never knew him to be “the kind of person that would … do something to violate a woman or be aggressive in that way.”
Then, in what was seen as the lynchpin that caused all the backlash, King replied, “But Lisa, you wouldn’t see it, though. As his friend, you wouldn’t see it.”
As soon as CBS aired the promo clip of the interview, all hell broke loose among Kobe Bryant fans. In fact, many (particularly African-American) fans took to social media to denounce Gayle King and, indirectly, Oprah Winfrey for what they labeled as a constant and premeditated “attack” on black men.
However, no response was more shocking than a YouTube video from rapper and television star Snoop Dogg, who took aim at King and even issued what many considered to be a personal threat against her safety.
“Gayle King, [you’re] out of pocket for that sh*t,” the famed rapper began.
“We your people. You ain’t come after Harvey Weinstein’s ass asking those dumb ass questions.”
Then, Snoop launched into a profanity-laced tirade that some say included a threat for the television host to watch her back.
“Funky dog-head b*tch. How dare you try to tarnish my f*ckin’ homeboy’s reputation,” Snoop said before adding: “Respect the family and back off, b*tch, before we come get you!”
Almost immediately, a host of African-American (and other) luminaries went public to denounce Snoop’s perceived threat, prompting him to backpedal on his remarks and — just as Gayle King has done regarding her interview clip — suggest that his remarks were taken out of context.
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This is despicable. Gayle King is one of the most principled, fair and tough journalists alive. Snoop, back the **** off. You come for @GayleKing, you come against an army. You will lose, and it won’t be pretty. https://t.co/nUxcYCLS62
— Susan Rice (@AmbassadorRice) February 8, 2020
You want to know why Kobe Bryant is a hero? He apologized to a hurt young woman. Snoop & others it’s time to stop terrorizing @gayleking & @feliciasonmez Truth hurts. Death hurts. Grow the fuck up. Kobe stopped hurting women, so can you pic.twitter.com/EEkg6u1HNM
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) February 9, 2020
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Following the backlash, Snoop Dogg filmed a 2nd statement in an attempt to dampen his earlier words.
“This video of Snoop threatening Gayle King is disgusting.” – Yashir Ali
“Here’s a message for the people that need to know: I’m a non-violent person. When I said what I said, I spoke for the people who felt like Gayle was very disrespectful towards Kobe Bryant and his family,” Snoop said in the statement. “Now with that being said, would I look like someone who would want some harm to come to a 70-year-old woman? [King is actually 65.] I was raised way better than that. I don’t want no harm to come to her. I didn’t threaten her. All I did was say, ‘Check it out. You out of pocket for what you’re doing, and we’re watching you. Have a little bit more respect for Vanessa and her babies and Kobe Bryant’s legacy.”
Although Snoop’s words and half-attempt at an apology was necessary to extinguish a fire he started, the thought on most minds today is that it may have been too little, too late.
Was Gayle King wrong for seeming to press Lisa Leslie to trounce Kobe Bryant so soon after his untimely death, or was she correct to discuss both the good and the bad of the late sports star’s legacy? Was CBS wrong to select the most controversial 20 seconds of an hour-long interview just to make it salacious and interesting for the public to watch? Was Snoop Dogg wrong to allow his emotions over the loss of his friend to get the best of him and to use words that have now encouraged violence against Gayle King? Or, is it possible that everyone was wrong and are each responsible for the mayhem that not only has the CBS morning host traveling with round-the-clock security, but has tarnished the memory of the great Kobe Bryant?
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