After sparking controversy earlier this year over comments about LGBTQ representation in media, Snoop Dogg is sending a new message, one rooted in empathy, education, and love.
On Oct. 13, the 53-year-old rapper and children’s content creator released a new song, “Love is Love,” through his animated YouTube series Doggyland. The upbeat track encourages kids to celebrate “families of all shapes and sizes” and reminds listeners that love, in all its forms, is what truly matters.
The song features Jeremy Beloate, a former contestant on The Voice and member of Team Snoop, and includes lyrics like:
“Our parents are different / No two are the same / But the one thing that’s for certain / Is the love won’t change.”
“Families are special / They are so unique / Everybody’s got a purpose / More than what you see.”
To coincide with the release, Snoop partnered with GLAAD for an open conversation with Beloate on Oct. 16 in support of #SpiritDay, an anti-bullying initiative for LGBTQ youth. In their 36-minute talk, the two reflected on overcoming bullying, growing up feeling “othered,” and using music as a bridge for understanding.
“‘Love is Love’ is a record that my kids’ program Doggyland presented me where … it’s teaching parenthood, teaching the situations that kids — and the world — (are) going through right now in a beautiful way through song, dance, melody,” Snoop said.
“Just trying to get more understanding, clarity, on how we live and the way we live. And I felt like this music is a beautiful bridge to bringing understanding.” Snoop continued, saying the goal was to help children “… live a happy life and understand that love is love.”
He went on to praise families of all backgrounds, telling Beloate, “It’s a beautiful thing that kids can have parents of all walks and being able to be shown love, to be taught what love is… being able to have parents from all walks of life, whether it be two fathers, two mothers, whatever is, love is the key.”
“And I think these kids are being loved by these great parents that are showing them an example of what family is. So I want to give a shoutout to all of the parents out there for doing such a great job with these kids.”
The release comes just months after Snoop faced criticism for remarks he made on the It’s Giving podcast, when he admitted he was “scared to go to the movies now” after his grandson asked about a same-sex couple in Pixar’s Lightyear.
Now, he’s turning that moment into a teachable one, both for himself and his audience. During his chat with Beloate, Snoop also opened up about his own childhood experiences with bullying, recalling an incident when a classmate destroyed his pet goldfish.
“There’s things that we deal with, and I know you deal with yours. … That’s what I want to say to the people that’s out there that’s being bullied, that you will get past that and you’ll be able to laugh at it, and you’ll be able to smile about it,” Snoop added.
Photo Credit: Snoop Dogg Instagram; Jeremy Beloate Instagram
