We’re used to the Olympics providing some strange moments, but this one tops most of them – Snoop Dogg as a rugby analyst, and a decent one at that.
That’s the funny fate that befell us after France secured their first gold medal of the Games with their victory in the men’s rugby sevens over Fiji.
France beat Fiji 28-7, inspired by Antoine Dupont, and iconic rapper Snoop was invited to commentate on the highlights on NBC a few days later.
Of Dupont, who set up a try himself and scored two, Snoop said: ‘I need him at running back (on my fantasy team), on the quick throw, 37 toss to the left.
“He got wheels, he deals, he falls, he spills. He gave this to his homie and they get five to stay alive. That’s five points and now they grooving.”
Snoop Dogg made a funny foray as a rugby analyst for NBC after France’s sevens win
The iconic rapper joked that he would have Antoine Dupont on his fantasy team for the NFL
NBC teased the rapper with footage of him getting emotional during the national anthem
Snoop was there to see Caleb Dressel win the men’s 100-meter freestyle relay in the pool
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As NBC aired clips of the French players dancing after their triumph, Snoop provided the soundtrack with a rhythmic chorus of “ah, ahs” and joked, “Get your groove on.”
The broadcast then cut to footage of Snoop (his real name is Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.) wrapped in an American flag and becoming emotional during the national anthem.
That was prior to Caeleb Dressel’s participation in the U.S. 4×100-meter freestyle relay, where Snoop stood next to the star’s wife, Meghan Dressel, who held her sleeping baby in her arms.
“Mike, you’re gonna make me cry, man,” Snoop said. “I shouldn’t have done that on this TV show. Come on, Mike, why you tapping your toes? Emotions, I don’t need that, man.
“Star-spangled banner, when I hear that, I get emotional. That song and just being there with all those Americans. Being there with the family, I felt like I was part of the family.”
Although Snoop announced in January that he would be part of NBC’s coverage, it will have come as a surprise to many to see him, especially in the UK.
But the ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’ and ‘Gin and Juice’ hitmaker has a history with the Olympics and was involved in preparations in the United States.
Three years ago, he co-hosted a streaming-only Peacock commentary with comedian Kevin Hart in Tokyo.
Snoop Dogg posed in front of the Eiffel Tower to announce his partnership with NBC for the 2024 Summer Olympics
Kevin Hart and Snoop Dogg on set as commentators for Tokyo 2021 in their Peacock series
Snoop reacted in a striking way to Simone Biles’ women’s gymnastics qualifying performance, lifting up his sunglasses to reveal a wide-eyed look
He has attended several events at the Olympic Games as a fan and presenter
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Earlier this year, he starred in an Olympics commercial on NBC, featuring several American athletes.
“I grew up watching the Olympics and I’m excited to see the incredible athletes bring their A-game to Paris,” Snoop said in a statement, posing in front of the Eiffel Tower as part of the announcement. “It’s a celebration of skill, dedication and the pursuit of greatness.
“We’re going to have some amazing games and of course I’m going to bring that Snoop style. It’s going to be the most epic Olympics ever, so stay tuned and watch.”
According to Molly Solomon, NBC’s executive producer and president of Olympic production, Snoop Dogg’s participation in commentary on the 2021 Olympic coverage generated “tens of millions of views” for NBC, she said in a statement to Variety.
“That performance alone has earned Snoop a job as our Special Correspondent in Paris. We don’t know what will happen every day, but we know he will bring his unique perspective to our reimagined Olympic primetime show.”
On Sunday, he responded in stunning fashion to Simone Biles’ qualifying performance in women’s gymnastics.
Under his American flag jacket, Snoop Dogg wore a T-shirt with the face of gymnastics legend Simone Biles on it.
Snoop Dogg was impressed with Biles’ performance and a hilarious photo was taken of him putting on his sunglasses and opening his eyes wide.
Snoop Dogg carried the Olympic torch in Paris ahead of the opening ceremony on Friday
The torch’s unique appearance led to comparisons to a cannabis joint on social media – and a flood of memes
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He also attended the opening ceremony as one of the Olympic Games torchbearers during a short run around the Stade de France.
But viewers who saw Snoop — real name Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr — immediately thought of something else associated with the rapper when one end was lit: a wavy weed joint.
This sparked a wave of memes on social media, with pranksters manipulating images to swap the flashlight for an oversized joint. One cartoonist even drew a picture of Snoop taking a drag from the flashlight.