Lipton responds to Dixie Chicks furor...

Corporate e-mail in response to my complaint. | March 27, 2003 | WorkingClassFilth

[WorkingClassFilth]

Dear Consumer,

Thank you for your recent note regarding remarks made by Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks. It is important for us to hear from our consumers and listen to their concerns.

As you can imagine, we did not expect a political controversy to arise when Lipton became a sponsor of the Dixie Chicks upcoming "Top of the World" concert tour. In this time of national crisis, we believe it is important for Americans to come together behind the values of freedom, democracy and tolerance that have made the United States of America into the country it is today.

We have every reason to believe the Dixie Chicks sincerely regret the distress Ms. Maine's comment has caused. In a subsequent statement, she said, "As a concerned American citizen, I apologize to President Bush because my remark was disrespectful. I feel that whoever holds that office should be treated with the utmost respect. We are currently in Europe and witnessing a huge anti-American sentiment as a result of the perceived rush to war. While war may remain a viable option, as a mother, I just want to see every possible alternative exhausted before children and American soldiers' lives are lost. I love my country. I am a proud American."

The Dixie Chicks have in the past shown their love of America in very public ways, such as by singing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl in January, for an audience of 930 million people worldwide. The strong bond they have forged with the public - country and popular music fans alike - is reflected in part by the People's Choice award they won for "Favorite Musical Group," and the fact that their upcoming tour sold out in record time. The band's popularity and success were further recognized when the Recording Academy awarded the Dixie Chicks four Grammy Awards.

While we respect the right to free speech for all Americans, we believe it is important for artists such as the Dixie Chicks to recognize the impact their points of view can have on their fans, especially in these uncertain times.

We value your comments, and equally, the constructive spirit in which they were offered. Thanks again for your time and for allowing us to clarify the situation. We'll be certain to share your thoughts with the Dixie Chicks.

Sincerely,

Linnea Johnson Director, Consumer Services

[WorkingClassFilth]

Well, that's Lipton's take on the Dixie Chicks comments. Although only one of them made the remarks, she did it during a performance and that constitutes a group statement in my book. Anyway, after reading this PR spin, I guess they really are fine patriotic young ladies after all (smirk). If you'd like to e-mail Lipton about your thoughts on these red-blooded American girls, why, just feel free to ues the handy e-mail address below. This should put you into contact with some corporate drone that doesn't give a rat's *ss about what you think. After all, friends, what you think and hear isn't really what you think it is anyway.

Comments@unilever.com

[TxBec]

www.nataliemaines.com

[WorkingClassFilth]

Thank you, Sir!

[TxBec]

Ma'am :)

[WorkingClassFilth]

Sorry, Ma'am. Thanks kindly, again.

[Buffjammer]

Here's what I sent them back:

I'm still not buying any Lipton products as long as you are sponsoring them.

I guess in your "spirit of support for freedom of speech" you'll be sponsoring Jose Padilla's "Blowing Up the World with a Dirty Bomb Tour" next.

You've solidified my decision with your disregard of this consumer's concerns and your very weak justification of the Dixie Chicks actions.

Happy Bankruptcy.

[mgist]

I got the same response.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I actually give Lipton some credit for this statement. The make some substantive comments, rather than sloughing it off in a fog of mealy-mouthed remarks.

One thing that did rub me the wrong way: they mentioned the Dixie Chicks singing of the National Anthem at the Super Bowl as a sign of their patriotism, then added that it was "heard by 930 million people world wide."

That undercut things for me. It made me think that Lipton and the Chicks were focused more on the exposure than on the patriotism.

[WaterDragon]

Whenever you see the Lipton logo, understand that is the middle finger salute.

[biblewonk]

How lame, I hate that memo-speak stuff. The Blixie chicks should move to France.

[big gray tabby]

Maybe. Or maybe they think that the Anthem somehow communicates our values worldwide or some such. I guess that case could be made.

It appears that Lipton has a response prepared for reasoned comments and I commend them also for their thoughtful approach. They didn't ask for this.

[razorback-bert]

We have every reason to believe the Dixie Chicks sincerely regret the distress

I bet they do too.

[Extremist]

I got the same form reply.
Lipton tea is inferior to others such as Luzianne and I urge everyone, who has not already, to switch ASAP. You'll be glad you did.
There are many other products associated with Lipton and Unilever. I will find alternatives to any of them I currently use as well.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Well, time for Lipton to do a Kmart.

Buh Bye!

[Dr. Scarpetta]

BUMP

[Centurion2000]

I got that same letter.

My response

While we respect the right to free speech for all Americans, we believe it is important for artists such as the Dixie Chicks to recognize the impact their points of view can have on their fans, especially in these uncertain times

And we will continue to exercise our rights of free association and stop buying the products of sponsors of the Dixie Chicks. Let the market decide.

Have a nice day.

[Jerry_M]

The Dixie Chicks have in the past shown their love of America in very public ways, such as happily taking the money of people who don't know that they actually harbor a resentment for all those "hicks" in fly-over country.

Some love.

[Petronski]

[antivenom]

This container looks like Natalie's figure...

[jriemer]

Notice in the entire form letter there is no actual response to what Natalie Maines said and did other than surprise? Lipton states "we did not expect a political controversy to arise"; however, they will not do anything to mitigate the situation either because the Dixie Chicks recently performed for "audience of 930 million people worldwide".

That attidude is so French.