Stephen A. Smith defends Snoop Dogg's appearance at Donald Trump's inauguration with connection to crypto mogul

Many sports fans revere Snoop Dogg. Besides his impact on Hip-Hop and culture, he's often been spotted at NBA and NFL games and has always been very close to sports.

Also, as an advocate for the Black community, the legendary rapper and diehard Los Angeles Lakers fan has been a prominent voice for years.

That's why many people were disappointed to see him performing at President Donald Trump's pre-inauguration party. Back in 2016, he called out black artists who performed at such events, going as far as to call them "Uncle Toms."

Stephen A. Smith addressed the subject in the latest edition of his podcast. There, he came to Snoop's defense, stating that he wasn't there because of the new President:

"I love that brother," Smith said. "Even when he's wrong, he's right with me because I know where his soul lies. Having said all of that, I still have to be fair to our audience. And I reached out to Snoop, and I'mma tell you exactly what the brother said to me.

"He wasn't there for Trump, he was there for David Sacks, who's gonna be running crypto and A.I. He's going to be the crypto and A.I. tsar for the President administration." (6:40)

Smith added that Snoop and Sacks have had a business and cordial relationship that goes back decades:

"David Sacks is someone that Snoop has had a relationship with for decades," Smith continued. "When nobody else put their money or were offering dollars to Snoop's football league, that brother does it."

Even so, Snoop Dogg continues to face steep backlash online, and it'll be interesting to see what he has to say to his fans.

Stephen A. Smith's contract negotiations with ESPN continue

Love him or hate him, Stephen A. Smith will always draw ears and eyeballs. That's why he's become such an asset for ESPN, and while he can be controversial and loud and times, he's made them a lot of money.

Smith recently denied the reports of him getting a $120 million deal with his employer, but he's reportedly set to have multiple perks.

For starters, he will reportedly be allowed to pivot and cover more than just sports. He's reportedly looking to make his name in politics as well, and with Disney -- ESPN's parent company -- having their hands in multiple pots, he will be in a position to do just that.