Carol ItohAustralia Chains The Dogg!
September 12th 2008 02:02
Fri Sep 12, 3:43 AM ET
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia granted gangsta rapper Snoop Dogg a visa on Friday after public complaints over a planned tour in October, but said he would be required to undergo counseling before arriving Down Under.
Snoop Dogg, whose real name is Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr., was refused permission to even apply for a visa to enter Australia in 2007 because of his criminal record, sinking plans for him to co-host the MTV Australia Video Music Awards
Australian immigration officials last month cleared an October visit, but then demanded more information after a spate of public complaints from Australian victims of crime groups.
"We took into account all relevant factors and, on balance, the department decided to grant the visa," an immigration spokesman said.
Oscar-winning Australian actor Russell Crowe this week wrote a letter to immigration officials to support Snoop Dogg's visa application and 17-day "Smoked Out" tour.
Crowe said Snoop Dogg had pledges to do charity work with at-risk youths while in Australia.
"I submit to you that Snoop Dogg poses no threat to Australia or to any individual in this country," Crowe wrote.
The spokesman said the visa will be cancelled if Snoop failed to abide by the law during his visit to Australia and strict behavior rules to abide by while in the country.
Snoop Dogg was first barred by Australia's former conservative government, which lost power last year to the centre-left Labor government of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Labor has steadily softened tough immigration laws while in power. Critics say Snoop Dogg's lyrics are racist and sexist. The rapper has sold over 17 million records.
His criminal record counts several drugs and firearms charges since 1990, including a 1993 acquittal for murder. He has also been denied entry to Britain.
*Way to go Australia in letting the world know you are not going to tolerate a gun toting self-subscribed gangster tour your country without some conditions in place. I actually like Snoop Dogg on some level after seeing some episodes of his reality show on E! but does that mean I would give him and his entourage the keys to my house and allow them free run of the place? Hell no!
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia granted gangsta rapper Snoop Dogg a visa on Friday after public complaints over a planned tour in October, but said he would be required to undergo counseling before arriving Down Under.
Snoop Dogg
Australian immigration officials last month cleared an October visit, but then demanded more information after a spate of public complaints from Australian victims of crime groups.
"We took into account all relevant factors and, on balance, the department decided to grant the visa," an immigration spokesman said.
Oscar-winning Australian actor Russell Crowe this week wrote a letter to immigration officials to support Snoop Dogg's visa application and 17-day "Smoked Out" tour.
Crowe said Snoop Dogg had pledges to do charity work with at-risk youths while in Australia.
"I submit to you that Snoop Dogg poses no threat to Australia or to any individual in this country," Crowe wrote.
The spokesman said the visa will be cancelled if Snoop failed to abide by the law during his visit to Australia and strict behavior rules to abide by while in the country.
Snoop Dogg was first barred by Australia's former conservative government, which lost power last year to the centre-left Labor government of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Labor has steadily softened tough immigration laws while in power. Critics say Snoop Dogg's lyrics are racist and sexist. The rapper has sold over 17 million records.
*Way to go Australia in letting the world know you are not going to tolerate a gun toting self-subscribed gangster tour your country without some conditions in place. I actually like Snoop Dogg on some level after seeing some episodes of his reality show on E! but does that mean I would give him and his entourage the keys to my house and allow them free run of the place? Hell no!
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