Outrage has erupted online as Snoop Dogg, the American rapper, is given more credit for boosting viewership at the Paris Olympics than the athletes who made the event remarkable. Fans are livid, insisting that no celebrity, no matter how famous, should overshadow the monumental achievements of the women’s gymnastics team, especially Simone Biles. The controversy has ignited a fierce debate on social media, with critics questioning why a rapper is celebrated over athletes who have poured their hearts and souls into their sport.

This uproar has sparked a larger discussion about the overshadowing impact of celebrity culture on sports and calls for a more accurate recognition of Olympic heroes. Fans demand that authorities and media focus on rewarding the athletes whose performances truly define the Games.

Stardom vs. Athletes performance – who got the viewership higher at the Paris Olympics

Recently, DailyRapFacts stirred up emotions on X by posting, “Snoop Dogg has officially made $9,000,000 from promoting the Paris Olympics in just 17 days 💶He also increased viewership by 79% 📈.” While many top celebrities played key roles in the Paris Olympics, it was Snoop Dogg who stole the spotlight, leaving fans buzzing. The legendary rapper and music producer didn’t just join the action; he lit up the Torch Relay, walking through the streets of Saint Denis like the true icon he is. While his presence at the Olympics was one of the most talked about topics, there were several speculations regarding his payment through promoting the Paris Olympics. Even though, initially, people were guessing that he was paid $500,000 per day. 

But, it was unofficial, hence not confirmed. On Thursday, 15th August, he finally confirmed that he got $9 million in 17 days of the Paris Olympics. Snoop Dogg shared a clip with the caption, “Snoop also lives and parties in Paris for free, all to bring more attention to the Olympics. Almost every top broadcast features Snoop. He attends all major Olympic events. For 17 Olympic days, he’ll earn nearly $9 million.” With him, there were other pop singers as well including Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Celine Dion, and many more. But, talking about the viewership increased, there are again many speculations.

Like, NBC agreed on the fact that it increased the viewership rating because of the amount he paid to the Paris Olympics. The women’s gymnastics team is being praised for significantly boosting viewership of the Paris Olympics. Just as Simone Biles soared through the air during a vault routine, the women’s gymnastics team final at the Paris Olympics drew an astonishing television audience. On Tuesday, NBC’s live daytime coverage of the final averaged 12.7 million viewers, with NBC and Peacock marking it as one of America’s top weekday daytime events in Olympic history. More people watched Team USA’s gold-medal-winning gymnastics performance live on television than any single game of the 2024 NBA Finals.

Simone Biles and her team’s outstanding vault and all-around individual performances drew the largest audience. Biles delivered her best routines, as this Olympics marked her ‘redemption’ journey. Additionally, with many speculating that this might be her last Olympics, fans were especially eager to see her compete in Paris. The way she edged out her longtime rival, Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade, in the all-around individual competition was a moment that fans watched repeatedly. Simone’s impact on increasing viewership is undeniable.

The live broadcast aired from 12:15 pm to 2:30 pm ET on Tuesday. NBC reported a total audience of 34.7 million throughout its two day’ coverage of Tokyo. It was 30 seconds (male gymnasts) away from long allusions to women’s team victory. Thus far, audiences to NBC in the first five days have surged past those of Tokyo Olympics for the Paris Olympics night. Paris, being six hours ahead of the East Coast (EDT), offers a better setup for American viewers than Tokyo does. So, clearly, it was not only Snoop Dogg who increased the viewership. Maybe his eye-popping face at the events went viral, but his presence may not be the only reason to skyrocket the viewership. Hence, many fans reacted to this and started to backlash.

Snoop Dogg gets credit, but fans say Simone Biles deserves more

The Olympic fans were angry when Snoop Dogg snatched the spotlight to boost viewership. Most of them disagree with this fact and strongly oppose it. One fan questioned the credibility of giving all the credit to Snoop Dogg, commenting, “79%.. Snoop has the aura, but we lying like that?” The fan suggests that Snoop Dogg may have his fair share of increasing the view count, but we cannot overlook athletes’ performances. Especially when Simone is performing her best, no one can deny her and her team’s contribution to the viewership.

Another fan reacted skeptically, “How do you determine that the 79% viewership increase is due to Snoop’s presence at the Olympics?” This fan disagrees with giving away all the honor to a rapper instead of the athletes. The admirer is asking for proof or evidence that proves Snoop’s presence directly caused the increase. The next fan argued and said, “The last Summer Olympics was the COVID-tainted games in Tokyo.  I don’t think we can put that 79% all on Snoop”, with disbelief on the claim. The fan does not think it is fair to compare Tokyo’s viewership with Paris since it was Covid back then. Plus, attributing the whole viewership to Snoop Dogg is totally unjustified.

A fan directly challenges the claim, commenting, “That’s a lie. Viewership of the Paris Olympics versus the Tokyo Olympics was up 82%. Snoop Dogg didn’t increase viewership by 79% when viewers didn’t know which events he was going to attend and when. Viewership increased because of a myriad of factors.” The comment highlighted the fact that the viewership spike happened because of several reasons. It emphasizes the diverse influencing factors, and the major ones are athletes like Simone Biles’ performances. 

One admirer dismissed the idea that Snoop’s presence has increased the viewership by commenting, “No one watched the Olympics for Snoop.  😮‍💨” While Snoop may have added some interest to the Paris Olympics, it’s important to remember that no one tuned in just to see him. The Olympics is a stage for athletes, and it was their incredible performances that truly spiked the viewership. While celebrities often capture the spotlight, we must recognize the real contributors to the success of major sporting events. Let’s not forget to appreciate the dedication and resilience of the athletes at the Paris Olympics—they are the main reasons why fans watched.