D.L. Hughley Advises Snoop Dogg to Look at 'the Man in the Mirror' After Trump Inauguration Performance Controversy

Mar. 15, 2025

Comedian and actor D.L. Hughley (left) and rapper Snoop Dogg.Photo:Michael S. Schwartz/Getty; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Michael S. Schwartz/Getty; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

D.L. Hughleydoesn’t thinkSnoop Dogghandled the backlash surrounding his2025 inaugurationperformance properly.“We decided that this was a man who was bad for our community, we stuck together,” Hughley, 61, said on the Jan. 28 episode ofThe D.L. Hughley Showpodcast.“We wouldn’t try to tear each other apart. We tried to protect each other. And the very man who we knew would do the very things he’s doing, you decided to entertain,” he continued. “It isn’t anger or hate, it is honestly people being disappointed. But why is the most common refrain whenever somebody gets to a situation like that, you tell us we can’t stick together?“Snoop, 53, as well as rappersSoulja BoyandRick Ross, performed at the Crypto Ball in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 17 as part of inauguration weekend. PresidentDonald J. Trumpand his incoming cabinet and administration attended the ball, which earned the first family “billions” of dollars, according toCNBC.Snooplost over 571,000 Instagram followersand 20,000 X followers after the performance. The “Drop It Like It’s Hot” rapper responded to the controversy inan Instagram videoon Jan. 26, saying, “Y’all can’t hate enough on me for me, I love too much. Get your life right, stop worrying about mine. I’m cool, I’m together. Still a Black man. Still a hundred percent Black. I ain’t going nowhere, cuh! I’m right here.“Snoop Dogg performing a surprise concert in New York City on Nov. 1, 2024.James Devaney/GCHe expressed a similar sentiment on theR&B Money Podcaston Saturday, Jan. 25.“You ‘gon deal with hate when you get to the top, no matter who you are … Me, personally, I answer it with success and love,” he said. “That’s my answer to any hate and negativity that comes my way, ’cause it’s the strongest force that can beat it.“Hughley did not agree with that response, suggesting on his podcast that Snoop is dealing with “an inner turmoil” after denouncing any Black artist who would perform for Trump in 2017.“It isn’t us that you have a problem with, it is you,” Hughley said. “The 2025 version of you is at odds with the 2017 version of you. So it ain’t the us that gotta get it together, it’s the you. You need to have a conversation with the man in the mirror. What is so different about the 2017 Snoop, and the 2025 Snoop? It ain’t us. We ain’t in it.”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The actor and comedian said he believes Trump and his administration have been the ones coming after the Black community with their legislation.“It is not us who are tearing down affirmative action. It is not us who is tearing down DEI. It is not who are tearing families apart. It is not us who have decided that affirmative action and rollbacks that precedent for 50, 60 years are gone,” Hughley said. “It is not us that is doing it. It is the man you decided to perform for.”Comedian D.L. Hughley performs at The Ice House Comedy Club in Pasadena, Calif. on Feb. 29, 2020.Michael S. Schwartz/Getty ImagesHughley suggested fans feel “disappointed because they saw you a specific way,” regarding Snoop.“You performed for a guy they knew would do what he’s doing,” he continued. “But it’s us that has the problem? It’s us that are wrong? It is us that can’t sick together?”TheStudio 60 on the Sunset Stripstar pointed out that86% of Black votersvoted for former Vice PresidentKamala Harrisin the 2024 election, so Snoop should’ve known the majority of the Black community would not support Trump.“Every time somebody gets into a situation of their own doing, it is always ‘a communal attack’ or ‘a community’s attack.’ I mean, no,” Hughley said. “People love you, but they dislike what you did. And there’s nothing more loving than that.”

D.L. Hughleydoesn’t thinkSnoop Dogghandled the backlash surrounding his2025 inaugurationperformance properly.

“We decided that this was a man who was bad for our community, we stuck together,” Hughley, 61, said on the Jan. 28 episode ofThe D.L. Hughley Showpodcast.

“We wouldn’t try to tear each other apart. We tried to protect each other. And the very man who we knew would do the very things he’s doing, you decided to entertain,” he continued. “It isn’t anger or hate, it is honestly people being disappointed. But why is the most common refrain whenever somebody gets to a situation like that, you tell us we can’t stick together?”

Snoop, 53, as well as rappersSoulja BoyandRick Ross, performed at the Crypto Ball in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 17 as part of inauguration weekend. PresidentDonald J. Trumpand his incoming cabinet and administration attended the ball, which earned the first family “billions” of dollars, according toCNBC.

Snooplost over 571,000 Instagram followersand 20,000 X followers after the performance. The “Drop It Like It’s Hot” rapper responded to the controversy inan Instagram videoon Jan. 26, saying, “Y’all can’t hate enough on me for me, I love too much. Get your life right, stop worrying about mine. I’m cool, I’m together. Still a Black man. Still a hundred percent Black. I ain’t going nowhere, cuh! I’m right here.”

Snoop Dogg performing a surprise concert in New York City on Nov. 1, 2024.James Devaney/GC

James Devaney/GC

He expressed a similar sentiment on theR&B Money Podcaston Saturday, Jan. 25.

“You ‘gon deal with hate when you get to the top, no matter who you are … Me, personally, I answer it with success and love,” he said. “That’s my answer to any hate and negativity that comes my way, ’cause it’s the strongest force that can beat it.”

Hughley did not agree with that response, suggesting on his podcast that Snoop is dealing with “an inner turmoil” after denouncing any Black artist who would perform for Trump in 2017.

“It isn’t us that you have a problem with, it is you,” Hughley said. “The 2025 version of you is at odds with the 2017 version of you. So it ain’t the us that gotta get it together, it’s the you. You need to have a conversation with the man in the mirror. What is so different about the 2017 Snoop, and the 2025 Snoop? It ain’t us. We ain’t in it.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The actor and comedian said he believes Trump and his administration have been the ones coming after the Black community with their legislation.

“It is not us who are tearing down affirmative action. It is not us who is tearing down DEI. It is not who are tearing families apart. It is not us who have decided that affirmative action and rollbacks that precedent for 50, 60 years are gone,” Hughley said. “It is not us that is doing it. It is the man you decided to perform for.”

Comedian D.L. Hughley performs at The Ice House Comedy Club in Pasadena, Calif. on Feb. 29, 2020.Michael S. Schwartz/Getty Images

Hughley suggested fans feel “disappointed because they saw you a specific way,” regarding Snoop.

“You performed for a guy they knew would do what he’s doing,” he continued. “But it’s us that has the problem? It’s us that are wrong? It is us that can’t sick together?”

TheStudio 60 on the Sunset Stripstar pointed out that86% of Black votersvoted for former Vice PresidentKamala Harrisin the 2024 election, so Snoop should’ve known the majority of the Black community would not support Trump.

“Every time somebody gets into a situation of their own doing, it is always ‘a communal attack’ or ‘a community’s attack.’ I mean, no,” Hughley said. “People love you, but they dislike what you did. And there’s nothing more loving than that.”

source: people.com