Gawker: defamer, endorsements

Real Hip Hop Head Perched in Front of 'South Park' Poster Calls Out 50 Cent

Hamilton Nolan — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:28:26 EST

This Canadian tween totally calls out 50 Cent for "whoring" himself with all his endorsement deals, and not keeping it real. His action figures and 'stache say: listen up, Fif.

This kid is the face of hip hop and we salute him for his beef-starting. Ante up. [via Adrants]

Hollywood's New China Rule

Hamilton Nolan — Thu, 29 May 2008 10:24:25 EDT

Sharon Stone has finally apologized for her "inappropriate" comment that the recent massive Chinese earthquake was a product of "bad karma" for the country for its treatment on Tibet. She's sorry, okay! Nevertheless, fashion house Christian Dior announced that it's pulling all of its ads featuring the actress from all department stores, and the entire country of China. Though the comment itself was stupid, Stone's hasty retreat from her brash Tibet-championing—and Dior's even harsher public rebuke of her—are a great illustration of what is becoming the New China Rule: "Do Not Talk About The New China Rule." It's been de rigeur for top stars to prove their class by endorsing luxury brands, and to prove their morality by pontificating about Tibet. But guess what: pretty soon you're going to have to pick one or the other, Hollywood. And it's not looking good for the Dalai Lama.

Everybody wants IN to the Chinese market. This particularly goes for high-end luxury brands, which are slobbering over the prospect of Chinese people—more than a billion of them!—soon having enough money to start buying their products. As the country gains a stronger middle and upper class, Dior and Armani and Chanel and Vuitton and all their friends are counting on a huge new customer base. Politics be damned!

And all the stars who model for, receive freebies from, or endorse all these brands? They're going to have to shut their traps about Tibet. China accepts no dissent on the issue. The Chinese government will happily blacklist any company foolish enough to publicly raise the issue, and no company would ever do such a thing. Nor will they allow their endorsers to. It's as simple as that. Every major company on earth has, thus far, folded in the face of Chinese totalitarianism, because the promise of their untapped customer base is too good to sacrifice for an abstract political cause. The shareholders want profits, not slogans.

So here's a prediction: In the future, the only Hollywood stars to loudly adopt the Tibet issue will be those who are too old or unpopular to land the juiciest luxury endorsements. Or maybe some of them will willingly ditch their endorsements in order to continue arguing for the cause? Ha ha! Yea, we hope so too. Maybe Richard Gere will stick it out.

Think that's cynical? The same thing has already happened in the sports world. NBA superstar Lebron James refused to sign a letter from ten of his own teammates condemning China's business connection to the atrocities in Darfur. Why? Because he has a $100 million contract with Nike, and the Olympics are coming up in Beijing, and Nike wants a big piece, as well as big peace. Most other big name athletes have already fallen in line as well.

Hopefully the Dalai Lama can do without Beverly Hills.

[Photo via Getty]

Nothing Gets Between Matthew McConaughey And His Shirtlessness Except Dolce & Gabbana Cologne

Seth — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:44:07 EST

When you think about it, there was really nowhere else for Matthew McConaughey to go with his career besides fragrance pitchman. Having already drained Hollywood of every last romcom spec requiring frequent toplessness of its male lead, the Texan matinee idol is now veering into entirely new multi-million-dollar payout realms to further explore his torso-exposing art.

In a spot for Dolce & Gabbana's new cologne, a lonely sax line accompanies the Fool's Gold star as he enters his hotel, ambushed along the way by the ever-lurking paparazzi. But it's another encumbrance—that of a stifling dress shirt and blazer—that seem to weigh on him most heavily, and the necessary corrections are soon made. Shirtless for Men: The new fragrance from Dolce & Gabbana.

Dolce & Gabbana [via Towleroad]

Huckabee A Landslide In Chuck Norris Primary

jgrode — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:25:32 EST

Christian chop-socker and 2007's "Most Forwarded" Chuck Norris sat down with Larry King last night to share his opinions about who should run the free world. It's Mike Huckabee. So, when you're in the booth next year, about to press flesh to Diebold, remember: Chuck Norris endorses Mike Huckabee. (You might want to bookmark this page.) The mind reels at the the "Norris Facts"-esque gems inboxs will clog with over the coming year: "Mike Huckabee doesn't believe in creationism. He created it."

"Mike Huckabee once quarantined and entire gay pride parade...with his bare hands." "Mike Huckabee doesn't cut taxes. He shames them into hara-kiri." Should you press play, stick around to the end where Chuck asserts that, were he to run for office, he'd choke every opponent unconscious. (Were he elected, he'd probably choke every terrorist unconscious before wrapping his hands around the uninsured, since it's safe to assume he'd run on a "choke all problems unconscious" platform.)

Larry King Live [CNN.com]

With these words, action star/political activist/internet...

Mark — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:23:37 EDT

With these words, action star/political activist/internet demigod Chuck Norris abandons his own promising presidential candidacy and makes his official endorsement for the Republican nomination, pledging to saddle up and rise a conservative dark horse all the way to the White House: "A short time ago, I wrote in jest about what I would do if I am elected president. Of course, that was written all in good fun. Like most of you, over the summer and into the fall, I've been watching, listening, studying and praying about who could lead this country as our next president. I won't leave you in suspense. Though Giuliani might be savvy enough to lead people, Fred Thompson wise enough to wade through the tides of politics, McCain tough enough to fight terrorism and Romney business-minded enough to grow our economy, I believe the only one who has all of the characteristics to lead America forward into the future is ex-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee." [World Net Daily via CNN Political Ticker]