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Snoop Dogg reportedly earned a substantial paycheck for his appearance at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Beloved by generations, the “Gin and Juice” rapper was one of the final torchbearers at this year’s games. View this post on Instagram A post shared by snoopdogg (@snoopdogg) “At the same time, it says a lot about France as far as connecting the dots and allowing me to do this. I look at this as a prestigious honor and something I truly respect,” he expressed, as reported by the Toronto Star. “I would have never dreamed of nothing like this. I’m going to be on my best behavior. I’m going to be on my best athleticism. I’ll be able to breathe slow to walk fast and hold the torch with a smile on my face, because I realize how prestigious this event is.” Snoop Dogg also took on the role of NBC Olympics correspondent, as reported by AFROTECH™ , leading to segments like swimming with Michael Phelps, traveling with the U.S. men’s basketball team, and cheering on athletes such as decorated...
Snoop Dogg is a marketing machine. The rapper, who is also a serial entrepreneur and the owner and CEO of Death Row Records, kept himself busy over the summer as the torchbearer and NBC Special Correspondent during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Snoop Dogg’s screen time included travel with the U.S. men’s basketball team, which concluded with a segment about the team’s synergy in conversation with sports commentator Mike Tirico. He also shared some viral moments, including a swim lesson with 28-time Olympic medalist Michael Phelps and his attendance at the gymnastics qualifying round, which sparked a dance moment with Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles. Speaking of his appointment he told The Associated Press, “This opportunity was nothing but a chance for me to show the world what it’s supposed to look like when you put the right person in the right environment.” It appears NBC Sports’ coverage of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics has led to a significant boost for its parent company,...
Google has pulled a recent 2024 Olympics ad after being accused of promoting the use of AI technology in place of creativity. In an ad titled “Dear Sydney,” a father narrates his journey to using the platform to help his daughter write a letter to U.S. hurdler and sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who just so happens to be her favorite athlete and inspiration, CNBC reports. While Google maintains that its AI chatbot Gemini is used solely to enhance or even jumpstart its users’ creativity , many social media users dragged the company following the ad’s airing, citing that it promotes too heavy a reliance on technology. “We believe that AI can be a great tool for enhancing human creativity, but can never replace it,” said a spokesperson for Google in an official statement following the incident, per CNBC. “Our goal was to create an authentic story celebrating Team USA.” Shelly Palmer, a professor of advanced media at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications,...
Luol Deng investment in men’s sports has led to a first in the Olympics. Deng was a former NBA player for the Chicago Bulls and committed 15 seasons, per Sports Illustrated, to the league before officially retiring in October 2019. Following his exit, Deng turned his attention towards his home country — the youngest country in the world — South Sudan, and became president of the South Sudanese Basketball Federation (SSBF), ESPN reports. “I retired and I always did my basketball camps. I know a lot of players from South Sudan and I knew that we could make it something special,” he told ESPN. “I want to help the growth of the game, but I want to use basketball to change the narrative and the stories of South Sudan, but also find a way to bring communities along and for everyone to get something inspirational behind it.” Fast forward to 2024, and South Sudan has made it to the Olympics, becoming victorious in their match against Puerto Rico on July 28, 2024. This marked the team’s...
The Olympic Games present one of the world’s biggest stages and displays of athletic prominence. From basketball to golf and now breakdancing, the Olympics always prove to be a place where people can support the top athletes representing their country. The 2024 Games are in Paris, France, welcoming big names like LeBron James, Coco Gauff, and Sha’carri Richardson. Among those names are players who bring in massive salaries. Their performances in the Olympics showcase their talent and possibly open the door for additional revenue dollars through brand deals and partnerships. Setting Records And Increasing Earnings At The Olympics According to Sportico, the top 20 highest-paid athletes collectively earned about $1.35 billion over the past 12 months ending in June 2024. While this list accounts for some of the most recognizable names in sports, it is exclusively represented by men, and about 65% of the entries are NBA players. Although NBA players dominate the list with 13 entries,...
Simone Biles is anticipated to be part of her third U.S. Olympic team. According to NBC News, the 37-time world and Olympic medalist’s “scoring potential is the highest of any gymnast in the world.” Therefore, she will most likely make the U.S. team in all-around, vault, and floor events. However, despite her appearance, Biles will not be paid for her time at the upcoming Olympics, NBC Insider reports. The International Olympic Committee over the Games explained that operating under a for-profit model would harm the sports being featured as a whole, leading to the sports that generate more money having a stronger presence. “Imagine if the IOC were to organize the Olympic Games on a for-profit business model,” the International Olympic Committee explained to NBC Insider. “The event would be limited to those sports that generate the most significant revenues, and it would not involve athletes representing teams from 206 NOCs [National Olympic Committees]. It would not be Olympic Games...
Tamyra Mensah-Stock walked away from the Olympics with gold. Now, she’s using her heart of gold to give back to the woman that made it all possible — her mother. The 28-year-old athlete made history during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when she became the first Black woman to win a gold medal in wrestling. After defeating Nigeria’s Blessing Oborududu in the women’s 68-kilogram freestyle wrestling, Mensah-Stock secured a spot in the history books by becoming the first Black American woman to win a gold medal in wrestling. She is the second American woman to walk away with the title. “These young women are going to see themselves in a number of ways and they’re going to look up there and go, I can do that,” she said following the historic win. “I can see myself.” Not only is she encouraging others with her winning spirit, but she’s also giving back to her mother, the woman that is the blueprint. After losing her father in a tragic car accident following one of her wrestling matches,...
The Jamaican bobsled team would love to continue its “cool runnings” into the winter Olympics. In a press release announcement, it was revealed that one of the world’s most famous bobsled teams would love to go to the winter Olympics, and they need to raise money to do so. But this time around, they’re not going to be doing exhibitions or heart-warming Disney movies. Rather, they’re raising money with non-fungible tokens (NFTs). “ The NFT Drop will feature limited edition digital artwork which highlights the best of the Jamaican Bobsled Team brand: daring, courageousness, persistence, and claiming your place on Earth regardless of where you are,” read a statement in the press release. “ The NFT Drop initiative is the first of its kind, mixing in a range of authentic Jamaican digital and physical experiences from musicians, music, and art lovers along with a purpose-driven mission of securing the celebrated team a spot in the 2022 Olympics utilizing unique digital assets.” According...
Simone Biles has already reached “greatest of all time” status, but Twitter just made it official. Just in time for the Tokyo Olympic Games, Twitter has announced that it’s launching a new GOAT emoji specifically to honor the Olympic gold medalist. This moment marks history for the 24-year-old as she’s the first Olympian to receive a custom emoji from Twitter and first female athlete ever to receive her own GOAT emoji, following after people like Patrick Mahomes. When used by Twitter users, the emoji will automatically populate alongside hashtags like “#SimoneBiles” or “#Simone” throughout the Olympic Games, which begin today and continue until Aug. 8. The social recognition for Biles is sure to explode over the next few weeks as she’s considered a crowd-favorite. Her new emoji is designed as a goat sporting a red, sparkly leotard with a gold medal around its neck to recognize her accomplishments. Witness greatness Tweet with greatness #SimoneBiles #Simone pic.twitter.com/M6RKzP3KB6...
24-year-old Naomi Girma has landed a historic deal! The young soccer star was drafted to the NSWL league back in 2022 as a first-round draft pick selected by the San Diego Wave, notes NBC News. Widely regarded as one of the top defenders in the U.S., she has earned 44 national team appearances and a Paris Olympics gold — now, she’s taking her talents to Chelsea in England. “San Diego Wave has been such an important part of my journey,” said Girma, according to Forbes. “I’ll forever be thankful for the opportunities I’ve had to grow here and for the incredible relationships I’ve built with my teammates, the sporting staff, and our amazing fans. I’m especially grateful to ownership and Cami for supporting my dream of playing in Europe. San Diego will always hold a special place in my heart, and I wish nothing but the best for the team moving forward.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Naomi Girma (@naomi_girma) Reflecting on her transition, Girma commented, “I mean, this...
Snoop Dogg is rapidly losing social media followers after his appearance at President Donald Trump’s Crypto Ball. As of Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, the “Gin and Juice” rapper — Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. — has 88.1 million Instagram followers, a drop of 571,800, and 20.7 million on X, down 17,177, according to the New York Post. Snoop Dogg’s performance at the pre-inauguration bash on Jan. 17, 2025, drew significant backlash from people who pointed out his previous anti-Trump position and speculated that financial incentives may have motivated him to take part. “For all the hate, I’m going to answer with love. I love too much,” Snoop Dogg said, addressing the criticism on Instagram Live. “Get your life right, stop worrying about mine. I’m cool. I’m together. Still a black man. Still 100% black. All out till you ball out or till you fall out.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by snoopdogg (@snoopdogg) Per another report by the Post, in September 2018, Snoop Dogg...
Costco shareholders want to uphold DEI policies. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Costco’s board of directors has requested that its shareholders reject a proposal introduced by the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) to eliminate its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The NCPPR argues that upholding DEI efforts should not be permitted due to the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action in June 2023. The ruling struck down race-conscious affirmative action across colleges and universities, NPR notes. However, Costco’s board of directors contends that the NCPPR has an agenda of “abolishing diversity initiatives,” and its critique of Costco’s DEI policy “reflects a policy bias,” according to Fox Business. “Our success at Costco Wholesale has been built on service to our critical stakeholders: employees, members, and suppliers. Our efforts around diversity, equity and inclusion follow our code of ethics: For our employees, these efforts are built...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. Over the past week, Los Angeles County has been battling wildfires that have devastated the city. Although some of the fires can be attributed to worsening climate conditions, some politicians blame artificial intelligence. While AI has proven to be a useful tool for wildfire prediction, the substantial amount of energy and water it amasses for its use raises concerns for a state already facing water scarcity. Wildfires aren’t a rare occurrence in California. The state has always experienced either naturally occurring wildfires or arson-related ignitions. But over the past few years, worsening climate conditions have led to more frequent and increasingly destructive fires. As of the most recent occurrence, neighborhoods in Altadena, Malibu, and the coastal Pacific Palisades have sustained the most significant damage. Reports confirm that over 20,000 acres have been burned, and more than 120,000...
Corporations are still advancing technologies without ensuring diverse perspectives are represented at the table. Inconsistencies have surfaced regarding a now-abandoned technology from Meta. As AFROTECH previously reported, in September 2023, Meta launched an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant that allowed users to retrieve information “in real time,” accompanied by images relevant to prompts. The bots also adopted the likenesses of several well-known personalities, including Snoop Dogg, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Paul. “Our journey with AIs is just beginning, and it’s not just about building AIs that only answer questions,” the company stated at the time. “We’ve been creating AIs that have more personality, opinions, and interests, and are more fun to interact with. Along with Meta AI, there are 28 more AIs that you can message on WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram. You can think of these AIs as a new cast of characters, all with unique backstories.” During the test run for the AI...