Craig Hutchison personally orders removal of Snoop Dogg article on SEN website

SEN chief executive Craig Hutchison says he personally asked for an article which amplified doubt surrounding Snoop Dogg’s attendance at the AFL grand final to be removed.

A story appeared on the sports radio station’s digital platform last week, which included quotes from David Schwarz, who told SEN’s Sunday morning show that Snoop Dogg would be cancelled as the grand final entertainment.

The AFL has had to fend off backlash for the decision to employ Snoop Dogg, initially because of the double standard that some of his lyrics appeared to expose, and later because of controversial comments he made about same sex marriage.

In one of his old songs, the American rapper sings the same word that Adelaide forward Izak Rankine copped a four-match suspension for saying to a Collingwood player in Round 23.

Having defended Snoop as a changed man since writing those lyrics, the artist then appeared on a podcast just days later, where he said he wouldn’t know how to explain gay marriage to his grandkids. He later walked back his comments and issued an apology.

The AFL remains steadfast that the grand final entertainment will not change, despite speculation that it would.

Schwarz went further than speculation though, confidently declaring that “Snoop Dogg will be cancelled” and replaced by an Australian artist.

SEN’s digital arm then published a story based on Schwarz’s quotes, with the headline: “‘Snoop Dogg will be cancelled’: AFL will need a new grand final plan”.

But it was quickly removed.

“That was me, I asked for that to be removed, to be clear,” Hutchison told The Sounding Board.

“A couple of reasons: one, I don’t believe it to be true, that’s the main reason, and two, I’ve been dealing with Snoop’s people on another opportunity that weekend.

“I know that, as a result of that conversation, there’s 100 per cent likelihood that he’s coming.”

Hutchison wouldn’t be drawn on what plans he was hatching with the Snoop Dogg camp, but reiterated his stance on the article.

“There are just a couple of things that we’re working on over the time that he’s here,” he said.

“It was basically just that I didn’t believe it to be true. I might be wrong.

“David Schwarz had said it on our Point of View show, which is his opinion, and well done for that.

“I just didn’t think we needed to digitally amplify what I don’t believe to be true.”

Sounding Board co-host Damien Barrett said he was “surprised” the AFL chose Snoop.

“And I like Snoop, and I’ve said that on this show and other shows, that I’ve actually been following his stuff since the ‘90s — not every single song, but I liked it,” he said.