Lipton Iced Tea Dixie Chicks Ads Pulled

AdAge.Com ^ | June, 19, 2003 | Hillary Chura

[TennTuxedo]

LIPTON ICED TEA DIXIE CHICKS ADS PULLED

Unilever Says It Will Continue Running Current Spots June 19, 2003 QwikFIND ID: AAO77M By Hillary Chura

BOSTON (AdAge.com) -- An ad for Lipton Iced Tea that features the Dixie Chicks is being pulled, according to people familiar with the situation. The country music group's lead singer in March during a concert was made comments critical of President Bush in the days leading up to the country's war with Iraq.

No comment A spokeswoman for Unilever, which jointly markets Lipton with PepsiCo in the Pepsi-Lipton Tea Partnership, would not comment on why the Dixie Chicks ad is not running but said, "Lipton has a number of different advertising and promotional plans in the works and has opted for now to run the commercials that currently are on air."

It's uncertain when or if the ad will run. The ads were to have debuted in May to coincide with the group's first world tour in three years.

Three current 30-second spots, which focus on getting back to a healthy way of living, started running in May in the slots designated for the Dixie Chicks ad, according to one person familiar with the situation. The person said the ads were rushed into production after comments made by Natalie Maines, the group's lead singer, caused a furor among some country music fans.

Texas dustup In a concert in England just prior to the start of the war in Iraq, Ms. Maines told the crowd: "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." The group is also from Texas. Radio stations organized boycotts, and Ms. Maine's later issued an apology

J. Walter Thompson Co., New York, produced the Dixie Chicks ads as well as those on air now. The decision not to run the ad has had no effect on the Lipton's sponsorship of the Grammy-winning group's "Top of the World Tour." The plan was for the tour was to offer Lipton a portable integrated marketing opportunity that would have included an associated Lipton Iced Tea TV spot.

PepsiCo and JWT, part of WPP Group, did not return calls for comment.

Lipton Iced Tea spent $2.9 million in measured media last year, according to TNS Media Intelligence/ CMR.

[TennTuxedo]

Dixie Chicks ads must have outlived their usefulness to Lipton. Unilever is still onboard with them.

[hispanarepublicana]

[somemoreequalthanothers]

They're still sponsoring the tour. No more Lipton iced tea for me.......

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

So much for Lipton's bravdo about sticking it out with them. I certainly hope their manager blames this on a concerted effort by that right wing website FR, because this time I think a certain amount of credit is due here.

I knew things would start to go really bad from them once the liberals stopped inflating their album sales after the spotlight was off them (like a certain Senator from NY's book will too) and then they would go out with a wimper.

[Zipporah]

You know.. if the Dicky Chicks had handled this whole matter in a different matter.. including the T-shirt Maines wore.. they'd not be reaping their just rewards.

[DoughtyOne]

Seems to me the Dipsie Twits have been a pretty good object lesson to liberals. The knashing of teeth over this has been interesting to say the least.

[billhilly]

A little lemon is ok, but a sourpuss is too much.

[My2Cents]

F.U.D.C.!!!

[Eustace]

America , land of Free Speech ( unless someone doesn't like what you have to say ).

First it was the Christian's then the Dixie Chicks , you better hope you are not next to realize your economic restraints.............

Does FREEDOM really ring in America , or is it just a myth?

[7 x 77]

Does FREEDOM really ring in America , or is it just a myth?

We're all free to support whatever music groups and tea brands we wish.

[strela]

America, land of Free Speech (unless someone doesn't like what you have to say).

How does my decision not to buy your product or utilize your service interfere in any way with your right to "free speech"? Am I somehow obligated to give money to you in the name of "free speech"? If so, upon what legal or moral theory do you base this? I would like an answer to these questions, if you would be so kind.

[milan]

How's this for free speech? F.U.TOO!

[knews_hound]

Pithy, very pithy.

Good for you !


Cheers,

knews hound

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Three current 30-second spots, which focus on getting back to a healthy way of living...

You don't suppose that half the reason for dropping them is that Lipton took one look at that fat pig of a lead singer and decided that she promoted a "healty way of living" about as well as the late John Belushi?

[strela]

I agree. Sometimes a man or woman of few words is just the ticket ;)

[Frank Lee Scarlett]

FREEDOM does really ring here in America. You can say anything you like; but if I disagree with you, on any subject, I still do not have to support you. Just try a consertive comment in most college classrooms and see what you get. The belief in free speech by the left has been shown to be free speech "only if you agree with me".

[milan]

I think what I said was immature and childish, but that is the point. The whole point is that Eustace is free to respond to my comments as he pleases.

According to his logic he should not be able to respond to my post. That makes no sense.

[milan]

immature and childish?!?! Isn't that the same?

[strela]

According to his logic he should not be able to respond to my post.

Well, he/she hasn't responded yet ... maybe there's something to the accusation ;)

[milan]

Well, he/she hasn't responded yet ... maybe there's something to the accusation ;)

Practicing what he preaches!