The Backlash Grows Against Celebrity Activists (Freerepublic mentioned)

NYT ^

[Sub-Driver]

The Backlash Grows Against Celebrity Activists By WARREN ST. JOHN

OR a few days after the Dixie Chicks' lead singer, Natalie Maines, told a London audience, "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas," there was not a ripple about the remark. The American ambassador to Britain, William S. Farish, was at the show on March 10, and made it a point to greet the Texas trio at a reception afterward. Though six critics reviewed the concert, only one mentioned the comment in print.

Four days later, all that had changed. Reports of the remark spread to the United States through Web sites — notably the Drudge Report and a conservative site called Freerepublic.com — and in no time, the Dixie Chicks, who had been riding the top of the charts with their album "Home" after winning Grammy Awards in February, found themselves the subject of radio boycotts and public CD burnings. Ms. Maines apologized for the remark, but by week's end, the boycotts had contributed to a 20 percent drop in airplay

[JOE6PAK]

Looks like the chix are HISTORY now. So sad really.

[Gorzaloon]

Neal Gabler, an author who has written extensively about society's attitude toward celebrity, said that the same public that worships stars as performers can turn against them when they express opinions like ordinary people.

Well, they are NOT expressing opinions like ordinary people, and that's the problem.

[Kevin Curry]

Mike Farrell, the actor who played B. J. Hunnicut on "M*A*S*H" and who is outspoken in support of liberal causes, said such tactics amount to "an orchestrated attempt to undermine free speech and the right to dissent." "If they want to call me a Saddam lover that's their right," he said. "But if they set out to affect me professionally, that's different."

Only if the "they" is the government.

Private citizens may organize to boycott and criticize to their hearts' content. That's a legitimate exercise of their First Amendment rights.

The Hollyweird position on the First Amendment is, "All for me and none for thee."

[RJCogburn]

Oh, Gee, Kevbo, I gotta agree with you here.

Now, if you would only come to your senses on the WOD!

[DoughtyOne]

[August West]

Mike Farrell, the actor who played B. J. Hunnicut on "M*A*S*H" and who is outspoken in support of liberal causes, said such tactics amount to "an orchestrated attempt to undermine free speech and the right to dissent." "If they want to call me a Saddam lover that's their right," he said. "But if they set out to affect me professionally, that's different."

Excuse me Mr. Farrell, but as long as you use your celebrity as a free publicity vehicle for your personal views, it is entirely approprtiate for those who disagree with you to affect you professionally - even to the point of "blacklisting". If you wish to avoid this, then don't rely on your fame for publicity. If you can't see this, then you truly are an arrogant fool who needs to spend some time in the real world.

[airborne]

IOW, free speech is fine, unless I lose money. Typical liberal!

[backhoe]

[Lockbox]

Gee, piss off your customers, then complain about the drop in sales. Go figure.

[EdReform]

BTTT!

[Rockiesrider]

"If they want to call me a Saddam lover that's their right," he said. "But if they set out to affect me professionally, that's different."


Darn right it is. We want you to know that you are an entertainer/actor not a learned expert. Just as your career relies on your ability to entertain people so does your income status.

[freekitty]

That sure is the truth including trying to ram their obviously flawed opinions down our throats. They will stop only when the fans hit them in the pocketbook where it must hurt them to, perhaps, discontinue their pie-in-the-sky lifestyles. Maybe a good dose of reality would help some of them really start thinking instead spewing nonsense. They may think they are not supporting Saddam and others like him; but they are simply by allowing them to remain in power. Of course, if you are for world government where everyone is a slave and has no free speech, etc., what can you expect?

[angkor]

"But if they set out to affect me professionally, that's different."

What a self-deluded hypocrite Mike Farrell is.

Actors use a soapbox provided exclusively and solely by their profession.

[Blue Collar Christian]

If one chooses to be a political activist, one must acknowledge the possible repercussions of that activism.

George Clueless pointed this out when he made fun of Chuck Heston, didn't he?

[rintense]

Sheryl Crow's forum has been down since the day before the war began. Her 'opus' was also removed from the home page of her official website after Drudge had a headline about it.

[watchin]

Exactly. I'm so tired of these boobs who don't have a right to free speech unless everyone agrees with them.

[TLBSHOW]

Well it does not look good for our side.

The Chicks went from #6 last week to #4 on the Billboard charts,

http://www.billboard.com/billboard/charts/bb200.jsp

and on the Country chart they remain at #1....

http://www.billboard.com/billboard/charts/country.jsp


Billboard is the true measure of this.

[Cate]

Just as Mike Farrell has a right to his opinion, so do we. And our opinion happens to be that he shouldn't work again.
We should not be subjected to his face across our television screens.

[cksharks]

BJ must be referring to the queers that shut down DR Laura.