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LONDON - US rapper Snoop Dogg, who has been denied a visa to enter Britain on a European tour, is seeking to have the decision overturned, a spokeswoman said today.
The 35-year old, arrested during a disturbance at London's Heathrow airport last year, had been due to perform with fellow US rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs, at Wembley Arena in London on Wednesday, followed by gigs in Cardiff, Manchester, Glasgow, and Nottingham.
"Snoop still sincerely hopes that the British Government will reconsider their decision and UK shows will be allowed to go on as planned," his spokeswoman said in a statement.
"Many routes are being explored to the prime minister to have the decision reversed," she added.
Britain's Home Office said it would not comment on individual cases, but added that the government had the power to refuse entrance to individuals whose presence in the country would "not be conducive to the public good".
Dogg was previously prevented from entering Britain in May, 2006.
It was not the first problem the rapper has encountered on his European tour. Earlier this month, Stockholm police arrested him and a woman in her early 20s for suspected narcotics use.
Dogg, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, had been performing concerts with Combs, once his bitter rival in a notorious feud between the east and west coast US hip-hop scenes in the 1990s.
"They feel strongly that the uniting message of the One Love Peace Tour will need to be shared with fans no matter what and discussions are underway with production teams so that Snoop can still be involved in the show," his spokeswoman said.
- REUTERS
