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Snoop Dogg under fire for wine promo during Black History Month
Rapper Snoop Dogg has come under fire after ‘offensive’ promo materials for his wine brand were displayed during Black History Month.
According to WSB-TV Channel 2, customers visiting 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, which was accompanied by bottles of bubbly from Snoop’s label along with Black Girl Magic wine, nearby in the produce section were allegedly placed next to a bulletin board adjacent to the display featuring phrases like “Dream Like Martin” and “Say it loud, ‘I’m Black and I’m proud’” was deemed as a slap in the face during Black History Month.
Johnnie Jones, a former president of the local civil rights organisation The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), slammed the “offensive’ display and hinted that pride over Black History Month should be about those who came before us and people of respect: “I just felt that it was offensive. They really promoting alcohol. Proud of drinking wine? No. We’re proud of the Tuskegee Airmen whose shoulders I stand on. We need to be thirsty for knowledge.”
Another customer, Michael Drummond, added: “It’s very negative.”
However, some customers, such as Pam Lewis, saw nothing wrong with the promotion and said: “I didn’t think there was anything wrong with showing a display of Snoop. 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’s corporate offices said in a statement: “Kroger is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in all we do. Our intentions are never meant to be offensive.”
The team at 19 Crimes have been contacted, but Snoop’s team are yet to respond to the complaints.
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