Pepsi Boycott LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - One of the biggest soda makers in the nation has gone wack with the hip-hop generation. Angered at Pepsi for placing foul-mouthed Ozzy Osbourne in a Superbowl commercial only months after yanking rapper Ludacris for his vulgar language, hip hop icon Russell Simmons said Tuesday he will announce this weekend plans for a boycott against the soft drinks giant, accusing Pepsi of applying a double standard in a wack (hip-hop slang for displeasing) manner. "The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) plans to announce and detail a proposed boycott of Pepsi during the NBA All-Star Weekend in Atlanta," a spokeswoman for Simmons and the non-profit hip-hop group he helped found, said. "The boycott is being called in response to Pepsi dropping Ludacris as spokesman and subsequently picking up the Osbournes, who are no less vulgar," she added. Simmons is credited with bringing black, hip-hop culture into the American mainstream over the past 20 years, He is also the founder of Def Jam Records, a unit of Vivendi Universal . A spokesman for PepsiCo Inc said the Ludacris controversy was an unfortunate experience. PEPSI'S MISTAKE "It was our mistake, we learned a lot from it and we've moved on," the spokesman said. "We respect Russell's interest in bringing hip-hop talent to a larger audience and we have worked together to do just that," he added. The controversy regarding the Ludacris spot dates back to a few months ago when conservative commentator Bill O'Reilly pointed out that the rapper was foul-mouthed, accused Pepsi of being "immoral" and urged a boycott. Pepsi caved in to the pressure, yanking its 30-second television spot, stating it had received several consumer complaints about Ludacris' sexually explicit, profanity-laden song lyrics. The spot itself, called "Party," was created and produced by UniWorld, and featured a party in full swing in a barn, with Ludacris onstage, rapping. Observers have said that no obscene lyrics during the commercial. O'Reilly, however, reportedly got a hold of Ludacris' lyrics from his song catalog, which were laced with vulgarities. Pepsi has a history of yanking controversial spots, such as one in 1989 with Madonna (news - web sites) featuring her "Like a Prayer," song which debuted at the same time as her video, featuring burning crosses that sparked consumer protests. Simmons' move is strategically timed, announcing the boycott of Pepsi in rival Coca Cola Co's home town of Atlanta during a star-studded and high-profile weekend featuring professional basketball's All-Star game when fashion, parties and entertainment will get almost as much attention as the players themselves. I don't know if he has but if Bill O'Reilly hasn't said anything about taking the Ozzy ads off the air he needs to be blasted for not doing the same thing as he did with Ludacris. He was the one who started the whole Ludacris thing and helped in getting Ludacris dropped in the Pepsi ad. Ozzy is just as foul-mouthed as Ludacris if not more and this is seen clearly on his show "The Osbournes" as well as television specials like the AMA's. If there is one thing I can't stand it is a hypocrite and if Bill O'Reilly doesn't comment against Pepsi using Ozzy in these ads then he is just that!
It'd be interesting to see if O'Reilly has said anything. A boycott of Pepsi during All-Star weekend should be really tough seeing how the game's being played in Atlanta.
It's about song content, not about saying "bad words". Ozzy might curse like no tommorrow, but he does not talk about stuff like this: [Chorus: repeat 2x] She said she never done it, she said she never tried She's sittin there tellin a mother****in lie [Verse 1: Ludacris] She said she was a Christian and she grew up in the church (in the church) Would stay a Virgin if for better or for worse (or for worse) Had plenty friends and got offers all the time (all the time) Swore up and down she was just one of a kind (of a kind) She said she's loved, but she's never gotten pimped (gotten pimped) Not dominated couldn't imagine, never dream (never dream) And though she steady looking for the perfect man (perfect man) To buy a ring and take her mother****ing hand (man) [Chorus: repeat 2x] [Verse 2: Ludacris] She said her stuff was sacred, and her momma told her so (told her so) and that she went and got it pierced on the low (on the low) Can you believe she's been waiting for so long?(for so long) to get a grade A certified shlong (certified shlong) She said her parents never let her out the house (out the house) Because they knew it was so dirty in the south (in the south) She hates to boast, and you know she hates to brag (hates to brag) but, man I gotta let her cut up out the bag (out the bag) [Chorus: repeat 2x] [Verse 3: Ludacris] She said she never tried to take it in the butt (in the butt) But, knew some ho down all around sluts (all around sluts) She even said she never licked another girl (another girl) and never had any chocolate, vanilla swirl (vanilla swirl) She said that ring up in her tongue was for show (was for show) and she would never be mistaken for a hoe (for a hoe) She telling lies over 20 years old (20 years old) I guess the game is to be sold, not told (Whoa!) [Chorus: repeat 2x] [Verse 4: Fate Wilson] She said she had a ***** who was only there for rent (there for rent) And wouldn't shake her booty for a red cent (red cent) She said she never ****ed 3 *****s at a time (at a time) Til Lil Fate started ****in with her mind (with her mind) She said she couldn't see how women turn tricks (turn tricks) And couldn't picture tryna suck a ***** dick (suck a dick) She had respect, and wouldn't do nothing wrong (nothing wrong) But, she the reason why we made this ****in song (this song) [Chorus: repeat 4x] [Repeat 'til fade] She's said she never done it
What the hell do you mean it's about song content??? Even if it is...Oh yeah I forgot, Ozzy's lyrics are totally clean? It clearly states in the article this: Doesn't foul mouthed mean "bad words"? Who cares whether in song or not, I would rather a performer curse on a record rather than on national television. Sure what Ozzy says is blurred out but you can still tell what he is saying.
It's funny to see Reuters give definitions for hip-hop terminology. Like some 60-year-old guy reading the paper in Oklahoma City is going to give this new word a try ... "Honey, this pot roast is wack..."
This is what Pepsi gets for letting bullies push them around. How long would the Madonna ad have been boycotted? Hell, there would have been just as many people supporting Pepsi and Madonna. Same thing with Ludacris. Anyways, O'reilly is probably going to find a way to weasel out of this one the same way he always does when his integrity or his show are questioned.
Anybody who gets into an argument with Michael Irvin on television but considers himself a serious political analyst is an idiot. see O'Reily As far as the boycott is concerned, Pepsi does look like hypocrites, but who gives a crap if they drop Ludacriss from their adds. They are trying to sell a product and if they think their consumers would be turned off by Ludacriss than so be it. Are they supposed to shoot themselves in the foot for Ludacriss. Lastly, I don't know anyone who drinks Pepsi.
Ludacris is a Def Jam South artist....which is owned by Def Jam....which is owned by Russell Simmons....hmmmm But....I agree with them on this one...Pepsi is being hypocritical....Ozzy foul mouthed = Ludacris foul mouthed....They look really bad on this. Besides drink Coke....Coca Cola used The Roots ft. Jaguar Wright and Common ft. Mya on their commercials. Much cooler.
The only difference b/w Ozzy and Ludacris other than race is Ozzy's brain is fried so whatever he says is funny. Kinda sad, but he's banking on it.
I'm not sixty years old, but perhaps I'll use this term in one of my sermons Sunday. I don't recall any cursing on Ozzy's two albums, Dairy of a Madman or Blizzard of Oz. Those are still his only two albums, right? Did he ever find a replacement for Randy Rhoads?
