As any aggressive, scientifically-enhanced super shark could tell you, you do not mess with LL Cool J. Imagine his surprise, then, when he was announced as one of the marquee interviews for a new Fox News special hosted by the not-polarizing-at-all Sarah Palin. This was news to LL Cool J, who began angrily tweeting until Fox News agreed to pull the interview. What exactly went down?
The NCIS: Los Angeles star did sit down for a taped interview with Fox News, but it was in 2008 for an online project named Real American Stories. Once the channel decided to spin those inspirational interviews off into a television special hosted by Palin, LL Cool J objected and his interview was excised, said a Fox News spokeswoman in an unusually bitchy statement:
Real American Stories features uplifting tales about overcoming adversity and we believe Mr. Smith's interview fit that criteria. However, as it appears that Mr. Smith does not want to be associated with a program that could serve as an inspiration to others, we are cutting his interview from the special and wish him the best with his fledgling acting career.
Ouch. Guess he's got a long way to go before he catches up with veteran thespian Victoria Jackson.
Fox News cuts LL Cool J from Sarah Palin's new show after he says he didn't agree to participate [LAT]