Milan, Italy – In a heartwarming display of sportsmanship and generosity, rapper Snoop Dogg repaid a family-run restaurant in Italy after a minor hiccup with his credit card during a visit to the 2026 Winter Olympics. The incident occurred at Cronox, a gastropub in Livigno, where Snoop Dogg ordered a substantial takeout meal consisting of a cheeseburger, chicken wings, chicken nuggets, and french fries.
According to Sofia Valmadre, daughter of the restaurant’s owners, the rapper’s credit card was initially declined when his staff attempted to pay. “He sent his staff to take [the card] and pay, but they couldn’t pay. I don’t know why, it wasn’t going,” Valmadre explained. Demonstrating remarkable kindness, the restaurant owners extended a gesture of goodwill, telling Snoop Dogg not to worry about the payment and to enjoy his meal.
However, Snoop Dogg, currently serving as a special correspondent for NBC at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, wasn’t content to simply accept the generosity. He surprised the family by sending them five tickets to the coveted men’s snowboard halfpipe final. “Grazie, Snoop!” Valmadre exclaimed in a video posted on X, expressing her family’s gratitude.
The 54-year-old hip-hop legend’s presence at the Olympics extends beyond his role as an NBC correspondent. He is also serving as an honorary coach for Team USA, and has been actively involved in covering the games, including appearances at events featuring American athletes like curlers Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin, snowboarder Chloe Kim, and speedskater Erin Jackson.
While Snoop Dogg’s act of kindness has garnered widespread praise, his trip to Milan hasn’t been without incident. Last week, a separate incident reportedly occurred involving his security team and Dutch speed skating champion Marianne Timmer at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium. According to reports, a disagreement arose between a member of Snoop Dogg’s security detail and Timmer in a hallway following the men’s 1000-meter race.
Timmer, in an interview with Sportnieuws, stated that she was pushed by a security guard while standing against a wall. “I was standing against a wall, and one of the security guards pushed me even closer,” she said. “I said, ‘Just act normal’, it’s a really wide hall, about four metres. But then the guy came back and I said, ‘What? Do I have to go through that wall or something?’” Timmer indicated that the hallway offered ample space and she questioned the need for physical contact.
Despite this reported altercation, Snoop Dogg’s overall experience at the 2026 Winter Olympics has been largely positive, highlighted by his generous gesture towards the owners of Cronox. The incident serves as a reminder that even minor inconveniences can be turned into opportunities for kindness and goodwill, especially on the world stage of the Olympic Games.
Snoop Dogg has not publicly commented on the reason his credit card was declined.
