Last January, Snoop Dogg’s daughter, Cori Broadus, was busy planning her wedding to fiancé Wayne Duece when the unthinkable happened: At just 24 years old, she suffered a severe stroke. “I was celebrating at a party, and then the next day, I’m in the hospital,” she recalls in Us Weekly’s latest cover story. Family members, including her music legend dad and his wife of 27 years, her mom Shante, 53, rushed to her side. “It’s hard for me to revisit that day,” says Snoop, also 53. “Anyone who knows me knows my daughter is my kryptonite.”
It wasn’t Broadus’ first health crisis. At 6, she was diagnosed with lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease. And in 2021, she revealed in an Instagram post that she had tried to take her own life while battling depression. The stroke was an especially powerful wake-up call for her and her loved ones. “I think it really scared everyone,” the 25-year-old singer and founder of Choc Factory cosmetics says. “You know, a stroke is no joke. It brought me and my family closer, [seeing] that anything can happen in a snap of a finger.”
The harrowing ordeal will play out in Snoop Dogg’s Fatherhood: Cori and Wayne’s Story, a three-part docuseries that debuted on E! on December 5, which also chronicles the lead-up to Broadus’ nuptials to Duece (she and the creative director got engaged in November 2022).
“Cori is very open in showing her truth, whether it’s talking about her struggles with mental health or her stroke,” says Snoop. “Most people wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing their experiences, but she wants to help people by showing that they are not alone,” Snoop adds, noting that he’s learned a lot from his mini-me. (Broadus affectionately calls her famous dad “her twin.”) “She’s shown me to lead with love and strength.”
Tell Us about the stroke and what that experience was like for both of you.
CB I didn’t even know I was having a stroke when I was having it because it’s not really talked about, and I never thought I could have one.
SD I don’t want to go back to that moment. But I know my daughter was put in this position to be a voice for other young women going through something similar. That’s why we decided to tell this story through the show. Cori is a voice for other girls, young women of color, other families going through the same struggles. It doesn’t matter how much money you have or how famous you are — this can happen to anyone.
Cori, was your dad more protective after it happened?
CB Oh yes, he checked in more. He was calling me every day. I’m like, “Dad, I’m OK, I’m sleeping.’” But I love that. I’m his baby girl. He was worried about me, of course, but he’s getting older too, so I think he’s realizing that family is all we got. And that as long as we stick together [and] love each other, that’s all that matters at the end of it all.
SD I just let her know I was there for her. We made sure she had the best medical care, but most importantly, it was about letting her know that we were by her side no matter what.
Did the stroke change your relationship with each other?
SD I’m still the same dad. But my family’s dealt with a lot of loss on top of Cori being sick. And it’s reminded us to live every day like it’s your last and to lead with love.
CB I think him seeing me in that state and not knowing [if I was] going to be OK brought [us] closer.
How did it affect the family as a whole?
SD It put things into perspective. It also reminded us that we need to take care of our health and listen to our bodies.
Cori, has it changed your outlook on life?
CB When you hear “stroke,” a stroke is serious. The doctors say you’re supposed to be here [and that] God is not done with you. You have so much more to do. Just [because of] the way I bounced back. I had a couple of motor skills [issues]. But speech was OK, I was moving OK. I was in [the hospital] longer because my lupus wasn’t doing well. It just made me appreciate life.
How would you describe your dad-daughter connection?
SD We have a very tight bond. She’s my only daughter. [Snoop shares son Corde, 30, and Cordell, 27, with wife Shante and has son Julian, 26, from a previous relationship.] That in itself is special.
CB It’s a beautiful relationship. I’m the princess. He had two boys, and then me, his baby girl. It’s a different type of love. You have to be softer, more loving and caring and more sensitive and fragile.
So you’ve always been very close…
CB I got sick at 6 with lupus, and I think seeing his baby girl go through that … When you’re so young, you don’t know how to express how you feel. You just know that you’re sick and everybody else is OK. You feel like the outcast. That made us closer. He made me look at it in a better way, like, “Cori, you have a story, you have a purpose. God doesn’t put people through things that they know they can’t handle.”
You say you two are a lot alike. How so?
CB When I say he’s my twin, [I mean that we’re] business-minded, and just the way I speak and how reachable I am to the audience. I’m not shy, and if I want something, I’ll do whatever it takes to get to the next level. We’re different in certain areas; I’m in the music [business] too, but my lane is completely different. I’m not doing hip-hop or R&B; I’m doing pop.
SD There are lots of little things — we eat the same way, move the same way. We’re similar in our work ethic, we’re both driven. We’ve always been moved to help others and put other people before ourselves.
What are the biggest lessons you’ve learned from one another?
SD That it’s OK to show your true self — people are still going to love you no matter what.
CB I used to tell him, “I’m the cursed child, I am going through all of these problems.” He reminds me, “Look at all that you’ve been through, and look at how you are still standing strong.”
Has it been challenging to grow up with such a famous dad?
CB He’s Snoop Dogg. He’s a legend — every time you turn the TV on, he’s right in your face; every time you turn the radio, he’s on [it]. [You could be at a] restaurant eating and his song is playing — you literally cannot escape him. I had bigger shoes to fill, but I feel like we’re all on our own journey. I used to be like, “I’m so tired of being Snoop Dogg’s daughter; I want to be Cori.” But that’s just my life, and instead of being angry, accept and appreciate it and take advantage of it the best way you can.
How did you carve your own path?
CB I think, in the beginning, I was trying to be somebody that I wasn’t because everybody has expectations [since] I’m his daughter. But I feel like I can’t live my life not being who I truly am. I’m learning to speak for myself and telling people what I want.
Did your dad put any pressure on you?
CB He doesn’t ever really have any expectations of me. [He says] just try, and if it doesn’t work, let’s try something else. But don’t give up, and keep pushing forward, head up, chin up, chest out. He never makes me feel pressured. It’s always like, “I’m right here in your corner.”
SD I don’t put pressure on my kids to pursue any one passion over the other. Obviously, I am here to help them if they come to me, but I always encourage them to follow their own path and find their own happiness.
How important is it to carry on the legacy of Snoop Dogg?
CB [He’s like,] “I was put on this earth to do this; you were put on this earth to do that.” He has his legacy. He’s doing what he was supposed to do.
SD Of course I’m leaving a legacy behind, but I’m also teaching my kids to take over the family business. All of [them] have been instilled with a good work ethic. They know I can only take them so far though. It’s up to them to find their own lane.
Cori, do you feel protective of your dad?
CB I have these hearts-to-hearts with him, and I feel like I’m the only one he really listens to when it’s time to get serious. I’m [all] about self-love, [so I’m like,] “If you’re not there for yourself, how are you going to be there for somebody else? Take personal days. Go get a massage. Go get your nails done. Whatever you love to do.” I see how he takes care of the world, and I’m like, “Why do you have to take care of all these people? Take care of yourself.”
You opened up about attempting suicide in 2021. Can you tell Us about that?
CB I’ve always wanted the pain to go away. You get to a place where you’re like, “Enough is enough.” We think the easiest way out is to just end it when it’s really not. Being on a 5150 hold in the hospital, having supervision to go to the bathroom, [having] somebody sitting in a chair to make sure I don’t do anything, and then going to a mental facility, it was definitely an eye opener for me.
Why share your experience?
CB I’m such an open book. So many people reached out to me [saying they’re] going through the same thing. [People are like,] “How could you want to kill yourself? You have this perfect life.” All of that materialistic stuff doesn’t go with you when you die, right? I want to speak about certain things that people may not speak about.
Fill Us in on wedding planning.
CB I never imagined getting married, having kids and doing all this stuff just because the guys I dealt with before Wayne were trash. I’m kind of a go-with-the-flow type girl. I never thought, “What type of wedding dress do I want? What type of wedding do I want? How do I want my hair to look? How do I want my makeup and nails to look?”
When you posted about your engagement, online trolls went on the attack, saying Wayne is using you because of your dad. How did that feel?
CB I have my days where I’m like, “OK, they’re miserable, and they’re just saying these things.” Then I have my days where I go, “Oh, my God, are they right?” It depends on the day I’m having. But as long as we’re good, it doesn’t matter what nobody has to say.
In Snoop Dogg’s Fatherhood: Cori and Wayne’s Story, we see you struggle with body image when you try on wedding dresses. Where are you with that?
CB I’ve always disliked my body because I’m not your average, perfect body. I wear a lot of baggy clothes, but [with a] wedding dress, you gotta be tight. There’s only so much my mom, Wayne and my dad can say. My dad always says if you don’t like it, you have to put in the work and change it.
Snoop, what’s your advice about tuning out the haters?
SD Just ignore it. There are a lot of people out there who are going to have an opinion. Focus on yourself and block out the negative noise because the more you speak to it, the more you feed it.
CB [He taught me that] people will have something to say regardless, so keep doing you, and when they stop talking, then you need to be worried.
Is it hard to watch her go through adversity?
SD It’s heartbreaking for me to see that. But then again, she’s an adult, and I need to let her be [one]. It’s not easy for a dad to sit back and see people attack his daughter like they have. I know that Cori is strong, though — I see a lot of my mother’s resilience in her. I always remind her that God wouldn’t put her in this position to deal with all these challenges if she couldn’t handle it.
Snoop, you and Shante have been married 27 years! What’s your secret?
SD Communication and love.
Have you given Cori and Wayne any relationship tips?
SD When two people are young and in love, the best advice you can give them is experience. They have to navigate that in their own way.
What’s been your biggest parenting challenge?
SD Not being there as much as I wanted to be when they were younger because of work and touring. I was also worried about putting them in the public eye, knowing how hard that is for kids. That’s also why I raised my kids away from Hollywood; I was trying to give them as normal a life as I could.
And what are you most proud of?
SD My family, led by my incredible wife. She’s been by my side through all the ups and downs. She’s been there not only for me but for my extended family and friends. She’s my rock, and she keeps the family together.
Do you approve of Wayne?
SD I called Wayne “son-in-law” from the moment I met him. I know he’s The One. As a father, you’re going to hand off your daughter to someone who you know will treat her well.
Is there a time frame for the wedding?
CB Stay tuned!
Cori, you said you wanted Justin Bieber to perform. Has your dad asked him?
CB I don’t know, but I’ve had Bieber fever forever! I was so mad when he married Hailey but she’s so pretty. I love her.
Any idea of what a father-daughter dance will look like?
CB Me and my dad are so gangster, we will probably be crip walking or something!
Part 3 of Snoop Dogg’s Fatherhood: Cori and Wayne’s Story airs Thursday, December 19, at 10 p.m. on E!. Episodes will be available to stream on Peacock.
For more on Snoop and Cori, watch the exclusive video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly — on newsstands now.
With reporting by Amanda Williams
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