(New York) The famous American rapper Snoop Dogg, whose image is inextricably linked to his love of marijuana, surprised his fans by announcing on Thursday that he would quit smoking.

“After much consideration and discussion with my family, I have decided to quit smoking. Please respect my privacy at this time,” he posted on his social networks.

The Californian artist with legendary nonchalance, aged 52, did not specify whether by this he meant quitting only tobacco or also cannabis.

Many of his fans reacted to this announcement with skepticism, ensuring that it was a joke, while others were worried about potential health problems for the star.

Contacted by AFP, his manager did not respond immediately.

Snoop Dogg was made famous by his solo album Doggystyle, produced by hip-hop star Dr. Dre in the early 1990s.

The rapper has sold millions of albums around the world, thanks to several hits like Gin

The singer, who is known to employ a professional joint roller, has also done business with the cannabis industry, which is now legal in many US states.