S. Samuel
Grammy-winning rapper Ludacris has ended his eight-year feud with controversial television host Bill O'Reilly.
According to Luda, he ran into O’Reilly at a recent event.
“The first thing I said to him was, ‘I want to meet the guy who has had so much to say about me, but knows absolutely nothing about me’,” Ludacris said in an interview. “I identified that I wanted to speak to him when I saw his name on the guest list. I looked at what table he was on, and I walked my a** straight to that table. He wasn’t expecting to see me, at all. The look on his face when he saw me approaching… priceless. From there, we came to a common ground. To be honest with you, we came together and did an event for charity – as crazy as it sounds. Perhaps everything happens for a reason. I prayed since the very first moment that Bill said something about me on television that I would be able to meet him in person. It took about seven years for that to happen, but it finally happened. And the joy that came over me, well, it was outstanding.” (Radar Online)
Luda’s issues stem from comments O’Reilly made about him in 2002.
O’Reilly was instrumental in getting Luda dropped from an endorsement deal with Pepsi when he demanded a boycott against the company for hiring someone who “disrespects women, encourages drug use, and encouraged violence.” The host of Fox News’ “O’Reilly Factor” continued to denounce the hip-hop star for years, describing him as “vile” and a “thug.” (Rap-Up)
The host even went as far as to tell Pepsi he would refuse to drink their products.
“I’m calling for all responsible Americans to fight back and punish Pepsi for using a man who degrades women, who encourages substance abuse and does all the things that hurt particularly the poor and our society,” O’Reilly said in a 2002 television broadcast. Then he says, “I’m calling for all Americans to say, hey, Pepsi, I’m not drinking your stuff.” (Smoking Section)
The rapper’s endorsement deal with Pepsi was reportedly terminated due to O’Reilly’s comments.
The key factor for Pepsi in deciding which pop stars are appropriate pop pitchmen and women is now, apparently, ”The O’Reilly Factor.” A day after Fox News Channel host Bill O’Reilly blasted the soda bottler for using ads featuring Ludacris, Pepsi has yanked the ads, citing consumer complaints over the rapper’s profane and violent lyrics. (Entertainment Weekly)
Check out Ludacris & Bill O’Reilly’s back-and-forth feud below:
