Snoop Dogg faces criticism online for his promotion of his wine brand 19 Crimes at a local Kroger during Black History Month. Moreover, the small town grocery store featured promotional posters and messages that many found particularly insensitive. According to WSB-TV Channel 2, patrons at a Kroger on Peachtree Parkway in Peachtree City, Georgia are not happy with the promo stunts. There’s a life size cutout of Snoop promoting 19 Crimes, and next to it is the bulletin board that caught people’s ire. For example, its featured phrases like “Dream Like Martin” and “Say it loud, I’m Black and proud” struck many as a slap in the face.
Furthermore, the promotional posters stood next to bottles of bubbly from Dogg’s label and also Black Girl Magic Wine. Even if they were selling a million bucks for a dollar, people didn’t take kindly to the messages. “I just felt that it was offensive,” former president of the local NAACP Johnnie Jones told WSB-TV Chanel 2. “They really promoting alcohol. Proud of drinking wine? No. We’re proud of the Tuskegee Airmen whose shoulders I stand on.”
Kroger Customers Weigh In On Snoop Dogg’s Wine Promotion
Also, he said the store should honor leaders like Atlanta’s first Black Mayor or the first Black Mayor of Fayetteville. “We need to be thirsty for knowledge,” he added. In addition, other customers chimed in on the signs in the report. “It’s very negative,” added Michael Drummond. What’s more is that some defended them and didn’t see a problem with them. “I didn’t think there was anything wrong with showing a display of Snoop,” customer Pam Lewis shared. “I mean, if you want to drink wine whether it’s Black History Month or not it shouldn’t really make any difference.”
Meanwhile, after the backlash, store managers immediately pulled the promotion. Kroger’s corporate offices stated, “Kroger is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in all we do. Our intentions are never meant to be offensive.” Still, neither the Long Beach legend nor his team responded to this as of yet. Regardless of your take, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest on Snoop Dogg.