NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A post on the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association's Instagram page encouraging members to boycott the Super Bowl over halftime performer Snoop Dogg's lyrics was removed and then restored by the social media company.
The Feb. 11 post, which was not removed from Facebook, appeared to criticize the NFL's choice of the 50-year-old rapper, writing, "encouraging people to shoot police officers apparently earns you a spot as a headliner at the Superbowl."
"If you choose to watch the game at all, (We won’t be) halftime is a great moment to shut your TV off in honor of those men and women in blue who gave their lives for us," the post continued.
Instagram confirmed to the New York Post that the post was initially removed "for violence and incitement," but was later restored by Monday evening.
The PBA's post included lyrics from Snoop Dogg and collaborator J5 Slap’s new song "Police," released on Jan. 22.
"Take your guns that you using to shoot each other and start shooting these b—h-a-- mother-f–king police," the lyrics read. "That’ll impress a mother-f–king n—a like me."
The post also included a letter from Nassau County attorney Anthony Capetola urging the NFL to remove the rapper from the show, citing the police killings of Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora last month, and addressed William Newlands, president and CEO of Constellation Brands, which owns Svedka Vodka and Robert Mondavi wine and uses Snoop to market their brands.
"Long story short, and especially in light of the killings of two young police officers in New York City, it is outrageous that you would use this entertainer to promote your brand," Capetola wrote.
Instagram told the Post that the post was removed because it violated its community guidelines, which "don’t allow content that may lead to a genuine risk [of] physical harm or direct threat to public safety."
Lou Civello, vice president of the Suffolk County PBA, blasted Instagram to the outlet, writing, "to censor a post that condemns Snoop Dogg for encouraging the killing of police officers is evidence that Instagram is complicit and condones such violence."
"This is a slap in the face to everyone who has ever worn the uniform and put their lives on the line for the safety of others, and is an example that Instagram enables, if not encourages, harm against police officers. They should be ashamed," he continued.
The rapper remained part of Sunday's halftime performance, opening the historic performance that included Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar in the first half-time show to solely highlight hip-hop artists.
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