Snoop Dogg was trying to "protect" Kobe Bryant's family when he lashed out at Gayle King online for revisiting the late sportsman's 2003 sex assault controversy in a TV interview.
The rap veteran was one of the first celebrities to blast King for bringing up the basketball icon's rape case during an early February chat with Bryant's friend and fellow athlete Lisa Leslie.
Calling Oprah Winfrey's best friend a "funky dog head b**ch" in an Instagram video, Snoop raged, "How dare you try to tarnish my motherf**king homeboy's reputation...? Respect the family and back off, b**ch, before we come get you (sic)."
The pointed warning led to King receiving a number of death threats, and Snoop subsequently apologised for his harsh words in a follow-up video, admitting he "overreacted" and was wrong for attacking her in a "derogatory manner based off of emotions (sic)".
He has since opened up about the social media scandal in an appearance on Jada Pinkett Smith's Facebook Watch series, Red Table Talk, claiming he really didn't mean any harm by calling out King.
In a People.com preview of Wednesday's episode, Snoop stated, "I wanted to make sure what I said was said the right way and I wanted to make sure that the message was across. That we love Kobe and be respectful of Vanessa and those kids.
"That's what the whole intent was, to protect that women and them babies over there, because she's still grieving. And let's give them that respect (sic)."
Bryant was killed alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others in a California helicopter crash in late January.
A public memorial for the Los Angeles Lakers legend and aspiring basketball star Gianna was held at the team's home venue, the Staples Center, on Monday.
