“The Wire” Actress “Snoop” Was Targeted Because of Her Role
Yesterday we reported to you, HBO’s “The Wire” actress Felicia “Snoop” Pearson was arrested and charged with conspiring to sell heroin and was one among 64 people charged in a joint state-federal persecution of a large east Baltimore drug gang.
Her managment team released a statement on her behalf:
“Felicia Pearson has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. In Felicia’s case, she feels that she is being targeted not only because of her portrayal of the memorable character “Snoop” On HBO’s critically acclaimed series THE WIRE; but also because of where she is from in Baltimore.
Felicia grew up where high crime rates, drug use and violence are the norm. Felicia has overcome numerous hard ships in her lifetime. She does not expect these hardships to be used as an excuse for illegal activities. She has never stopped working on self improvement. Felicia has made strong statements against drugs and violence of any kind.
She is focused on living a positive life-style encouraging youth and formerly incarcerated women to make positive choices for themselves. She is currently working on 3 films that are shooting in Philadelphia with Len Daniels and T-Town Music Group.
Felicia hopes to return to the Philadelphia film set immediately, and wants her friends and fans to know that she is keeping her head up, shoulders back and that she is prepared to fight these new charges against her.”
David Simon, creator of The Wire, also spoke up for “Snoop” in an interview with Slate.
“First of all, Felicia’s entitled to the presumption of innocence. And I would note that a previous, but recent drug arrest that targeted her was later found to be unwarranted and the charges were dropped. Nonetheless, I’m certainly sad at the news today. This young lady has, from her earliest moments, had one of the hardest lives imaginable.
And whatever good fortune came from her role in The Wire seems, in retrospect, limited to that project. She worked hard as an actor and was entirely professional, but the entertainment industry as a whole does not offer a great many roles for those who can portray people from the other America. There are, in fact, relatively few stories told about the other America.
Beyond that, I am waiting to see whether the charges against Felicia relate to heroin or marijuana. Obviously, the former would be, to my mind, a far more serious matter. And further, I am waiting to see if the charges or statement of facts offered by the government reflect any involvement with acts of violence, which would of course be of much greater concern.”
More updates coming as this story progresses.
