We’re used to seeing quirky moments from the Olympics, but this one tops most: Snoop Dogg as a rugby analyst, and a pretty decent one at that.
That’s the funny fate that befell us after France claimed its first gold medal of the Games with its men’s rugby sevens victory over Fiji.
France swept Fiji to a 28-7 victory inspired by Antoine Dupont and iconic rapper Snoop was invited to commentate on highlights on NBC a few days later.
On Dupont, who set up a try and scored two himself, Snoop said: ‘I need him at halfback (on my fantasy team), on the fastball, 37 pitches to the left.
“He’s got wheels, he’s got stuff, he falls, he gets rid of things. He gave this to his friend and they get five points to stay alive. It’s five points and now they’re in top form.”
Snoop Dogg made a fun appearance as a rugby analyst for NBC after France’s sevens victory
The iconic rapper joked that he would have Antoine Dupont on his NFL fantasy team
NBC mocked the rapper with footage of him getting emotional during the national anthem.
Snoop had been watching Caleb Dressel win the men’s 100-meter freestyle relay in the pool.
As NBC showed clips of the French players dancing after their win, Snoop set the game to a rhythmic chorus of “ahs, ahs” and joked, “Move it.”
The broadcast then cut to footage of Snoop (real name Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.) draped in an American flag and getting emotional during the national anthem.
That was before Caeleb Dressel’s participation in the United States’ 4x100m freestyle relay swim victory, with Snoop alongside the star’s wife, Meghan Dressel, who cradled their sleeping baby.
“Mike, you’re gonna make me cry, man,” Snoop said. “I wasn’t supposed to do that on this TV show. Come on, Mike, why you moving your feet? Emotions, I don’t need that, man.
“When I hear the Stars and Stripes, I get emotional. That song and just being there with all those Americans. Being there with the family, it made me feel like I was part of the family.”
Although Snoop revealed in January that he would be part of NBC’s coverage, some may have been surprised to see him, particularly in the UK.
But the creator of the hits “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and “Gin and Juice” has a history with the Olympics and has been involved in preparations in the United States.
Three years ago in Tokyo, he and comedian Kevin Hart offered streaming commentary on Peacock.
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 Tokyo 2021 commentators in their Peacock series
Snoop had a surprising reaction to Simone Biles’ women’s gymnastics qualification performance, lifting his sunglasses to reveal a wide-eyed look.
He has been attending a variety of events at the Olympics as a fan and broadcaster.
And earlier this year, she starred in a commercial for NBC’s Olympic coverage featuring several American athletes.
“I grew up watching the Olympic Games and I’m excited to see the incredible athletes bring their best to Paris,” Snoop said in a statement, as he posed 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 competitions and of course I’m going to bring Snoop’s style. It’s going to be the most epic Olympics ever, so stay tuned and don’t miss out.”
Snoop Dogg’s appearance on the Olympic coverage generated “tens of millions of views” for NBC in 2021, the network’s executive producer and president of its Olympic production, Molly Solomon, 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 the heck is going to happen each day, but we do know he’ll bring his unique perspective to our revamped primetime Olympic programming.”
On Sunday, she had a surprising reaction to Simone Biles’ women’s gymnastics qualifying performance.
Under his American flag jacket, Snoop Dogg wore a T-shirt with gymnastics legend Simone Biles’ face printed on it.
Snoop Dogg was in awe of Biles’ performance and a hilarious image captured him lifting his sunglasses to reveal a wide-eyed look.
Snoop Dogg carried the Olympic torch in Paris ahead of the opening ceremony on Friday
The torch’s unique appearance sparked comparisons to a cannabis joint on social media and a flood of memes.
He also took part in the opening ceremony as one of the Olympic torch bearers in a short race around the Stade de France.
But onlookers watching Snoop (real name Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr) immediately thought of something more associated with the rapper as he burned at one end: a billowing cannabis joint.
This sparked a wave of memes on social media as pranksters manipulated images to change the torch into an oversized joint, while one cartoonist even drew Snoop taking a hit from the torch.