LL Cool J Says Fox News Is ‘Misrepresenting’ One Of His Old Interviews To Promote Sarah Palin’s New Show

By Matt Corley

Yesterday, Fox News announced that former Alaska governor Sarah Palin will host the first edition of her “Real American Stories” show on Thursday, which “will feature stories about a Marine who died to save his fellow soldiers and a stock broker who helps underprivileged students pay for college.” According to numerous press reports and a Fox promo, Palin’s program will also showcase “In Their Own Words” segments with Toby Keith, Jack Welch and LL Cool J. Watch the promo:

But don’t be confused. The segment with LL Cool J is not an interview conducted by Palin. On his Twitter page, the rapper and actor said that Fox was “misrepresenting” an old interview “in order to promote Sarah Palin’s show”:

Fox News “did not immediately return requests for comment” from NBC Washington and the New York Times. Palin’s supporters are already lashing out at LL Cool J. Conservatives4Palin responded to LL, saying, “don’t flatter yourself” and arguing that Fox “never stated that Palin interviewed LL Cool J. It’s not Fox’s fault that others in the press misconstrued what the press release actually stated to mean that you and Palin talked.”

Watch LL Cool J’s “Real American Stories” segment here, which was not conducted by Sarah Palin.

Update Gawker points out that the LL Cool J video on the Real American Stories website appears to have been removed this morning. The above link now says "The page you were looking for does not exist."

Update A Fox spokesperson tells TVNewser that they are "cutting" the LL Cool J "interview from the special." The Fox spokesperson also included a jab at the rapper, saying "it appears that Mr. Smith does not want to be associated with a program that could serve as an inspiration to others."

Update LL Cool J's spokesman said in a statement to the AP that "the show had planned to use an interview from 2008 that was being repurposed without LL's permission" and "this statement is not a reflection of any feelings LL has toward Fox News or Ms. Palin, whom he has never met, rather a clarification of what we have seen published in the media."