Snoop Dogg says he's a 'non-violent person' after criticism over threatening Gayle King comments

'What do I look like, wanting some harm to come to a 70-year-old woman? I was raised way better than that’

Snoop Dogg has insisted that he’s a "non-violent person" in an Instagram video responding to allegations that he threatened CBS News anchor Gayle King over an interview in which she referenced Kobe Bryant’s rape case.

After receiving heavy criticism online for what many detractors saw as a threat to a woman journalist, Snoop Dogg posted a video to Instagram attempting to clarify his statements.

"Here’s a message for the people that need to know, I’m a non-violent person. When I said what I said, I spoke for the people who felt like Gayle was very disrespectful towards Kobe Bryant and his family," he said. "Now with that being said, what do I look like, wanting some harm to come to a 70-year-old woman? I was raised way better than that.

"I don’t want no harm to come to her, and I didn’t threaten her. All I did was say, 'Check it out - you out of pocket for what you doing and we watching you. Have a little bit more respect for Vanessa, her babies and Kobe Bryant’s legacy,'" he said.

His ire was initially drawn following the airing of an interview on CBS This Morning, during which Ms King asked WNBA star Lisa Leslie about Mr Bryant’s rape case.

"It’s been said that his legacy is complicated because of a sexual assault charge, which was dismissed in 2003, 2004,’ she asked. ‘Is it complicated for you as a woman, as a WNBA player?"

Ms Leslie defended Mr Bryant, saying "he would never do something to violate a woman." The case against Mr Bryant was ultimately dropped when the 19-year-old accuser chose not to testify. The parties agreed to an out-of-court settlement after the case was dismissed.

"It’s not complicated for me at all," Ms Leslie said. "I just never see, have ever seen him be that kind of person that would do something to violate a woman or be aggressive in that way," she said. "That’s just not the person that I know."

Snoop Dogg initially responded to Ms King’s interview by posting an insult-laden video in which he told her: "We expect more from you Gayle. Respect the family and back off, b**** before we come get you."

Mr Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, died in a helicopter crash on 26 January.

Oprah Winfrey, who is friends with Ms King, said Ms King has received death threats and "she is not doing well."

Ms King has since said that the clip of the interview being shared by CBS News on social media takes the back-and-forth "out of context," claiming it warped the actual tone of the interview. She said she was "very angry" with the network.

Ms King was absent from her show on Friday after criticising the editing of the clip. CBS News correspondent Jericka Duncan filled in for Ms King.

CBS News president Susan Zirinsky supported Ms King in a statement on Saturday.

"We fully support Gayle King and her integrity as a journalist,’ she said. ‘We find the threats against her or any journalist doing their job reprehensible."