Rapper and sports talk host Cam’ron went viral for a trolling, smug interview with Abby Phillip on CNN this week about hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs following the release of video evidence of alleged domestic violence several years ago. Wednesday on his show It Is What It Is, Cam’ron responded to the blowback over the interview and addressed his issues with CNN.
Cam’ron reminded the world that this is his persona on news talk shows following an infamous run-in on Fox News in the early 2000s. He also challenged CNN for booking him only to talk about drama and crime in the rap world rather than the positive business moves he makes and cohost Mase’s efforts as a role model in the community.
“You call me on CNN for the bulls***, Imma give you the bulls***, that’s just what’s going to happen,” Cam’ron said. “We got some free promo.”
Cam’ron believes CNN tried to use his proximity to the situation as a fellow New York rapper and friend of Mase’s (who was signed to Bad Boy Records in the 1990s) to bait him into ginning up more controversy around Diddy.
“I just felt that you tried to use me,” Cam’ron said. “The video, I don’t support it. I don’t believe in domestic violence, I don’t believe in anything that has to do with being a pedophile, I don’t believe in sex trafficking. What I seen in the video was egregious, and the charges are f***ed up. they’re really f***ed up. I said what I said, I gave a disclaimer then we were out on a commercial, that was that.”
Cam then referenced his infamous appearance with Fox host Bill O’Reilly in 2003, responding to the idea that “gangsta rap” poisoned the minds of young Americans. Cam debated an elementary school principal before jeering O’Reilly for losing his temper and threatening the host with “dirt.”
“They didn’t watch Bill O’Reilly. That’s what I do on them joints,” Cam said this week. “They keep inviting to Fox, CNN, 60 Minutes, y’all already know what the resume is with them shows.”
Before kicking off the usual discussion on It Is What It Is, Cam made the same point he did back on The O’Reilly Factor in 2003. Mainstream media continually uses him and other prominent names in hip-hop to portray a certain image of crime and violence while ignoring anything that shows a different side of these artists.
“I know we play and joke a lot, but y’all call us up for that, and don’t nobody invite us to talk about s*** that’s positive,” Cam said. “Y’all call me like this, we did this in less than 24 hours … you want to play games, that’s what you got.”
It’s safe to say NewsNight with Abby Phillip won’t be booking Cam’ron again any time soon.
