The Center for Science in the Public Interest is
urging Beyonce to drop her $50 million deal with Pepsi because soft drinks
contribute to obesity and other health problems in children and adults...
An open
letter from the director of the CSPI to Beyonce
Beyonce you have
a unique position in the cultural life of this country and are an
inspiring role model for millions of young people.
Your image is one of success, health, talent,
fitness, and glamour. But by lending your name and image to PepsiCo, you are
associating those positive attributes with a product that is quite literally
sickening Americans.
I imagine that it must be hard for anyone to turn
away $50 million. But this endorsement deal strikes me as particularly
inappropriate, considering your popularity with America's young people and the
extent to which Pepsi and other sugary drinks promote disease.
The New York Times attributed to you a statement
that this endorsement agreement allows you “to work with a lifestyle brand with
no compromise and without sacrificing [your] creativy.” It seems to me that
this deal is actually an enormous comprise. In fact, I would characterize this
as an even bigger compromise than your accepting $2 million to perform at the
2009 New Year’s Eve bash thrown by Hannibal Gaddafi, the famously violent son
of the now-deceased Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Continue after the cut...
You realized that that arrangement was in error and
wisely donated those proceeds to charity, I respectfully urge you to reconsider
your arrangement with PepsiCo. If you move ahead with your promotional
activities, you may wish to consider donating your proceeds to a hospital,
diabetes organization or another reputable charity involved in the prevention
or treatment of soda-related diseases.
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