quote:

Palin's show drops LL Cool J after he complains

NEW YORK – An upcoming Fox News Channel special hosted by Sarah Palin is titled "Real American Stories."

But rapper-actor LL Cool J says his participation in the show was bogus.

In response, the network has snipped him from the program.

In a Twitter posting late Tuesday, the entertainer wrote that Fox "lifted an old interview I gave in 2008 to someone else & are misrepresenting to the public in order to promote Sarah Palins Show. WOW."

Country singer Toby Keith was similarly caught by surprise, his publicist said Wednesday.

Elaine Schock said a radio reporter contacted her Tuesday seeking details about Keith's announced appearance on Palin's Fox News program.

"I said, 'You're wrong. There is no Sarah Palin special with Toby Keith on it on Fox,'" Schock said.

She said the reporter then e-mailed her the press release issued by Fox News, which said Keith would "explain the inspiration behind his song 'Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.'"

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Originally listed as part of the show were former General Electric boss Jack Welch and LL Cool J in a segment called "In Their Own Words."

The LL Cool J interview was from 2008, his spokesman said.

"Contrary to what was reported, LL Cool J was never scheduled to be a guest on 'Real American Stories' with Sarah Palin this week," spokesman Rhett Usry said in a statement Wednesday. "The show had planned to use an interview from 2008 that was being repurposed without LL's permission.

"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."

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ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

Gotta love this response:

Fox News Channel did not respond to numerous calls and e-mails from The Associated Press inquiring about the status of the segment with LL Cool J, who was born James Todd Smith.

But in a statement released to other media outlets, the network said: "'Real American Stories' features uplifting tales about overcoming adversity and we believe Mr. Smith's interview fits that criteria. However, as it appears that Mr. Smith does not want to be associated with a program that could serve as an inspiration to others, we are cutting his interview from the special and wish him the best with his fledgling acting career."

Credits for the 42-year-old actor include a starring role in the hit CBS freshman series "NCIS: Los Angeles," as well as several films such as "Last Holiday" and "S.W.A.T."