Ludacris Gets Dropped By Pepsi

Yahoo! Music, Aug 30, 2002 5:00 pm PDT
(8/30/02, 5 p.m. ET) -- Pepsi-Cola has pulled a national, 30-second commercial featuring multiplatinum rapper Ludacris from the air after Fox News Channel's host Bill O'Reilly called for a boycott of the company. O'Reilly characterized Pepsi as "immoral" for using the rapper, whom he described as rap thug on Tuesday (August 27). O'Reilly read several of the rapper's lyrics, which he said emphasized a lifestyle that included getting intoxicated, selling drugs, fighting people, and degrading women.

On Wednesday (August 28), Pepsi-Cola released a statement explaining its decision to pull the ad, "We have a responsibility to listen to our consumers and customers, and we've heard from a number of people that were uncomfortable with our association with this artist. We've decided to discontinue our ad campaign with this artist and we're sorry that we've offended anyone."

While on the air, O'Reilly commended Pepsi for acting quickly, but pointed out that this was only part of larger problem, "Well, we applaud Pepsi's decision but there's a bigger story here, and that is a growing trend in America to reward disgraceful behavior." O'Reilly specifically mentioned former playmate Anna Nicole Smith and her new television show as an example of the problem.

In a published statement, Ludacris's mother, Roberta Shields, shared her thoughts on Bill O'Reilly, "Mr. O'Reilly, my son will continue to be successful despite you and others who rail against artistic expression."

When contacted by LAUNCH, Ludacris's Def Jam Records label had no comment on the matter.

-- Yves Erwin Salomon, New York

For more news at LAUNCH, click here.

Got news tips, comments, or questions? Send them to launchnews@yahoo.com.

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