Lipton Foods Apologizes for Sponsoring the Dixie Chicks [Gold Medal Freep- 24hrs!!]

Unilever Foods North America ^ | March 14, 2003 | E-mail to FR ProtestOR

[ewing]

Email recieved this morning from Lipton to FR protestors: (re: Dixie Chicks Sponsorship Tour and Lipton Foods)

Thank you so much for writing!

We are writing in response to your comments regarding the Dixie Chicks 'Top of the World Tour.' We certainly apologize and are grateful you have chosen to share your thoughts.

As a manufacturer we feel it is a major responsibility to provide our friends and customers with the most creative and entertaining means of sponsorship possible.

We have a long history of presenting 'tasteful' advertising, promotional and sponsorship efforts to the public. We certainly do not wish to offend anyone. In developing our promotional efforts, Unilever and its agencies may not always anticpate all possible implications of a specific campaign.

We will certainly forward all of your comments to our marketing staff.

[ewing]

But if no one is buying their catalog or going to their concerts, the moolah will run out in a hurry..

[ewing]

Well, people are burning their CD's today in Kansas City and taking them off of every radio station in the town..

[FreeTally]

I hope no one seriously thinks Lipton is going to pull their sponsorship of the tour. First, they probably can't without owing the DC's millions. Secondly, no one outside FreeRepublic is going to remember it was Lipton six months from now(or less), and they(Lipton) certainly aren't going to lose an amount of sales that would hurt over this.

[ewing]

They won't lose sales if all the folks in the towns where their records are being kicked off the radio decide not to buy Lipton?

[FreeTally]

But if no one is buying their catalog or going to their concerts, the moolah will run out in a hurry..

I believe this tour is sold out. People can't get their money back. And I highly doubt that when they put a new record out in a few years(if they even do) that this will hurt their sales that much. The average consumer is forgiving, and IMHO, their comments are being blown WAY out of proportion by a few people(such as DJs) looking for quick popularity.

[ewing]

It will be interesting to see how many people show for their concerts during wartime. (if Natalie doesn't apologize further)

[FreeTally]

They won't lose sales if all the folks in the towns where their records are being kicked off the radio decide not to buy Lipton?

You are assuming they are buying Lipton in the first place. Again, in short time, most Americans will forget all about this. Only the type of Freeper who tries to get boycotts of everything under the sun will remember.

Heck, Lipton is bound to find out/realize that most the calls or e-mails they got were from the same group of maybe 50 people calling/emailing multiple times.

[ewing]

There are radio stations all ove rthe country dropping the chicks music that might disagree.

[AmericanInTokyo]

The slick expensive PR firm in either Nashville, LA, New York, or wherever contracted by Dixie Sluts and/or agents, definitely huddled for an emergency spin session this a.m., when things started caving in nationwide and in the CM industry, on the Dixie Sluts.

Don't believe ANYTHING they say today, tomorrow or the next day. Hey, we are Freepers. We weren't born yesterday and are not naive imbeciles.

Ohhh yesss, the handwringing and apologies will be increasing in intensity and frequency as this builds up.

The only thing to do is to run the Dixie Sluts out of business....as a warning to others--and boy are there many more in US entertainment--to kindly, wisely and accordingly keep their collective and individual traps shut about American foreign policy and any disagreements, when overseas in public forum.

[Illbay]

No, I can't. Not in this case, anyway. This is a "canned" apology, not a real one at all. Just an attempt to make you THINK they are listening to you (and it looks like it worked, judging from the premature expressions of elation on this thread).

The Dixie Chicks' career will depend on how many CDs they sell, how many concert tickets, etc. Not on what a bunch of FReepers think.

Take a shot of reality. The fact is that this is more than likely one salvo in a long war.

Too many people expect instant gratification.

[billbears]

Thank you. A voice of reason

[to the core]

I just called them at 1-800-697-7887.

I talked with a lady who said she agreed with me and that they were working on a statement. I told her I hope their response went beyond a statement to action, because I was ready to do more than make a statement -- I was ready to take action against companies who sponsored such entertainers.

[Illbay]

A very big "IF".

[FreeTally]

It will be interesting to see how many people show for their concerts during wartime. (if Natalie doesn't apologize further)

Look, people are acting like this is Alec Baldwin or Barbra Streisand who have a history of over-the-top ridiculous statements. She said ONE THING some people dont completely agree with. Big deal. If people asked every performer you like in-depth questions about their beliefs, they would be calling for a boycott of almost every artist in the country.

I for one am not just going to turn my back on an entertainer because of a simple comment. A history of comments makes me never listen to them/watch them in the first place. If an artist can separate their music from their politics(like MOST do), then I care not. I believe this is the opinion of most people in this country, contrary to what posts on FR would lead one to believe.

[SolutionsOnly]

This is encouraging...
But Please don't forget that Words are cheap! It's actions that count.

[ewing]

This 'statement' seemed like an apology to me.. (but not action)

[Search4Truth]

Thanks.

Sent them this:

Surely you know already of the objections of many of your customers to your company sponsoring the tour of the anti-American group "Dixie Chicks' .

We are currently organizing a boycott of your company's products. This will continue as long as your company supports such anti-America groups as "Dixie Chicks".

Look for details of the boycott on the Factor carried on the Fox News Channel.

Sincerely, Al.
Alex J. Azar III
Consultant

[lonestar]

They are paid everytime their music is played on the radio. They've been banned on many stations; the economic impact of that will be noticeable short-term.

[Kay Soze]

Here's the one I sent:

I am very upset at Lipton and Unilever for sponsoring an anti American entertainment group.

Even if they don’t agree with US policies they should not have done so on stage in a foreign country.

A country which is arming Saddam Hussein to kill my kids in battle!

I am telling everyone to not purchase Lipton and Unilever products.

CC: Rush Limbaugh, GOPUSA, Freerepublic.com

Also note that Lipton is owned by Unilever
http://www.unilever.com/brands/contactus/

Lipton is at
letters.liptontusa@unilever.com

[KneelBeforeZod]

We have to keep the pressure on. Only then will we bring them to their knees, just like the Walmart boycott did.