He became a cable legend in 2003 when he accused Bill O’Reilly of being “maaaad†on Fox News. He added to his mythos in 2007 when he told Anderson Cooper in a 60 Minutes interview, “I’d probably move†rather than snitch on a serial-killer neighbor. And now, thanks to his May 20 appearance on CNN, Dipset rapper and former O.J. Simpson employer Cam’ron has cemented his place in the Talking Head Hall of Fame by becoming the network’s first commentator to take sex supplements live on the air.
The interview begins with anchor Abby Phillip asking the rapper to offer his perspective on Diddy in the wake of the footage of his violent assault on his ex-girlfriend Cassie. Cam’ron hesitantly obliges, condemning the rap mogul’s actions — with the caveat that while he knows Diddy, the executive isn’t “necessarily a friend.†Phillip pushes on, asking Cam’ron, as someone who knows Diddy personally (but again, not that personally), if Diddy’s behavior in the video was recognizable to him. “I don’t know him like that!†Cam reiterates. He’s similarly curt when asked for his thoughts on Diddy’s recent apology video: “The apology ain’t for me to decide. That’s for Cassie.â€
Then things really start to go off the rails. Phillip asks Cam’ron about a recent segment of his podcast, It Is What It Is, in which he and his co-host, former Bad Boy artist Mase, reference Diddy’s business practices. Rather than give Phillip a workable sound bite about Diddy’s exploitative past, Cam downs a shot of Pink Horse Power, a virility-supplement product he owns. “Sorry, I’m going to get some cheeks after this Horse Power drink,†he clarifies to a stunned Phillip before taking the opportunity to plug his podcast and deflect yet another question. “Who the talent agent for this joint?†he asks. “You think I be sitting around watching what Diddy do and all this? I didn’t know this was a Diddy joint that y’all was inviting me to!â€
It’s a righteous position for Cam to take, given he was seemingly intent on advertising his gas-station-quality erectile-dysfunction drink irrespective of whatever the interview topic was. But find me a news pundit who doesn’t have a predetermined agenda. Cam is only further demonstrating he belongs with the other sharks in this arena. CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, BBC, even Al Jazeera should keep him on speed dial. Only then will he get to live out his destiny of snorting ground rhinoceros horn on Jesse Watters Primetime.