Snoop Dogg gifts family five tickets to Olympics for what they did when his credit card declined at restaurant

Snoop Dogg has brought the energy of a fairy godmother to the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games, trying his hand at a number of winter sports and even making some people’s dreams come true.

The ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’ singer has been seen working as a correspondent for NBC and riding a Zamboni ice resurfacer at the figure skating, but at one point he took a break to grab a hefty take out order from a local restaurant.

However, despite having sold over 35 million records worldwide, Snoop Dogg’s card was declined over his order of a cheeseburger, chicken wings, chicken nuggets and French fries, according to NBC.

In a sweet act of human kindness, even though he couldn’t pay, Cronox restaurant in Livigno let Snoop off. In turn, the ‘Gin and Juice’ rapper responded with his own kindness.

In a sign that he is turning from ‘Tha Doggfather’ into Team USA’s fairy godmother in Italy, Snoop gave the family from the restaurant tickets to see the men’s snowboard halfpipe final.

The restaurant owner’s daughter, Sofia Valmadre, told NBC: “He sent his staff to take it and pay, but they couldn’t pay. I don’t know why, it wasn’t going.

“So my mother told him that it was okay [to take the food] without paying. Today, he sent us five tickets to see the final.”

This good deed has been just one part of the rapper’s transformation into the unofficial mascot for America’s Olympians, building on his charismatic if laidback appearances at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

This has stepped up a key at the Winter Olympics, with fans spotting the rapper trying his hand at a variety of sports, getting snowboarding lessons from legendary Olympian Shaun White and even jumping in a little blue sled to amuse people at the games.

People’s reaction to having the iconic G Funk artist representing America has been largely positive, with one person responding to his act of kindness by saying ‘Uncle Snoop doing wholesome things! Love it,’ while others said it was ‘nice’ and that Snoop Dogg ‘should be protected at all costs.’

“That’s sweet he didn’t need to do that,” another fan wrote on X.

But having reportedly made a cool $9 million for appearing at the Paris Olympics, a fee of $500,000 per day, you really have to wonder how on Earth the ‘Young, Wild & Free’ rapper’s card was declined in the first place.

Why is Snoop Dogg at the Winter Olympics?

While he may seem like an unlikely figure in the world of sport, Snoop Dogg certainly made his mark as a ‘special correspondent’ at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

So much so that ahead of the Milano Cortina Winter Games, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) announced the rapper had joined Team USA as its first-ever ‘Honorary Coach’, which is a ‘volunteer role celebrating and supporting America’s athletes off the field of play’.

“Team USA athletes are the real stars — I’m just here to cheer, uplift and maybe drop a little wisdom from the sidelines,” Coach Snoop said. “This team represents the best of what sport can be: talent, heart and hustle. If I can bring a little more love and motivation to that, that’s a win for me.”

Sarah Hirshland, Chief Executive Officer of the USOPC, added: “His enthusiasm for the Olympic and Paralympic Movement is contagious, and we’re thrilled to officially welcome him as a member of the Team Behind the Team.”

Snoop Dogg has officially made history by becoming Team USA’s first ever honorary coach ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) announced the exciting news on December 10, after being impressed with his commentating and morale boosting at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

“From the moment Snoop met Team USA athletes, there was an instant connection — mutual respect, genuine curiosity and a lot of laughter,” USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland said in a statement.

“His enthusiasm for the Olympic and Paralympic Movement is contagious, and we’re thrilled to officially welcome him as a member of the Team Behind the Team.”

As part of his duties, Snoop will bring ‘his signature humor and heart to help motivate Team USA athletes on their road to the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 and beyond’.

He will also ‘lend his voice to help raise awareness and resources’ for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation Team USA Fund ‘and highlight the hard work of the staff behind the scenes that support athletes on their way to the coveted medal podiums, such as coaches, medical experts, administrators and partners’.

Speaking about the honor, Snoop downplayed the significance of the milestone moment as he said: “I’m just here to cheer, uplift and maybe drop a little wisdom from the sidelines. Team USA athletes are the real stars.”

The singer continued: “This team represents the best of what sport can be: talent, heart and hustle. If I can bring a little more love and motivation to that, that’s a win for me.”

Best known for his long-running rap career, Snoop’s appearance at last year’s Paris Olympics saw him capture the hearts of an entirely new international audience as he took a starring role in multiple aspects of the games, including carrying the Olympic torch and performing in the closing ceremony.

He also acted as a commentator for the official US broadcast of footage from the Games and regularly mingled with many of Team USA’s most beloved athletes, including Simone Biles, Michael Phelps and Billie Jean King.

Speaking about the experience last year, he told People: “I love the fact that NBC was willing to take a chance on somebody like me that’s kind of rough around the edges.

“It’s an advantage to everybody looking at this that come from where I come from.”