Following in the footsteps of rapper LL Cool J, country music singer Toby Keith is also expressing displeasure with the way Fox News is using an old interview with him to promote a Sarah Palin special.
Fox announced the Palin special yesterday. It’s called “Real American Heroes,” will air this Thursday and was to feature interviews with Keith, LL Cool J, and Jack Welch.
The interviews appear to have been filmed awhile back for the “Real American Heroes” website, which is owned by Fox News.
It now seems that there was a lack of clarity on how the interviews would be used, and by whom.
A spokesperson for Keith told HitFix today: “We were never contacted by Fox. I have no idea what interview it’s taken from. They’re promoting this like it’s a brand new interview. He never sat down with Sarah Palin.”
Last night, LL Cool J slammed Fox News on his Twitter feed:
Fox lifted an old interview I gave in 2008 to someone else & are misrepresenting to the public in order to promote Sarah Palins Show. WOW
Fox News responded:
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.
