Pepsi to Reinstate Ludacris

ONLINE PETITION FOR PEPSI TO REINSTATE LUDACRIS PROMOTION CAMPAIGN

We the undersigned demand that Pepsi reinstate the Ludacris promotional campaign. On August 30, 2002 Pepsi pulled the plug on a national campaign featuring Ludacris after Fox News Channel's Host Bill O'Rilley (yes the same Bill O'Rilley who slithered upon the scene as the host of Inside Edition, a daily "news show" which not only lowered the standards of professional journalism, but is partially responsible for the "yellow journalism" and sensationalism we see in the news today).

Ever the opportunist, on August 27, 2002, O'Rilley attacked Ludacris and called Pepsi "immoral" for using him in a national campaign aimed at the hip hop nation. O'Rilley went on to to describe Ludacris as a thug and blasted the rapper's lyrics which he said glorified getting drunk, selling drugs, fighting and degrading women.

Responding to O'Rilley, Pepsi dropped Ludacris from their promotional campaign and released the following statement:

"We have a responsibility to listen to our consumers and customers, and we've heard from a number of people that were uncomfortable with our association with this artist. We've decided to discontinue our ad campaign with this artist and we're sorry that we've offended anyone."

Later, O'Rilley commended Pepsi for dropping Ludacris and released the following statement:

"Well, we applaud Pepsi's decision but there's a bigger story here, and that is a growing trend in America to reward disgraceful behavior."

We the undersigned come together to notify Pepsi that Bill O'Rilley does not speak for the hip hop community...nor does he speak for the majority of Americans. While Bill O'Rilley has made a professional career out of attacking others and spinning the truth, artists such as Ludacris have made theirs based on their own efforts. While we stop short of blaming racism as Mr. O'Rilley's motivation, we will point out that he did not take offense at Pepsi's campaign featuring Britney Spears...nor did he speak out against her lifestyle which many find offensive, particularly women who comprise of more than half of the country's population.

Just as Mr. O'Rilley is in no position to speak for women, he is in an even less position position to speak out on behalf of the hip hop community...a community he not only knows, nothing, if anything about, but a community his actions and words have repeatedly shown he is biased against and takes offense at. Mr. O'Rilley does a great disservice by singling out and blaming rap music for our social ills. Applying his logic, what does that say about movies and video games??? And if he really believes in his statement, why doesn't he speak out against Quintin Tarintino (Pulp Fiction, Resevoir Dogs), Al Pacino (Scarface, Godfather) or any of the many video game manufacturers? One reason, it's easy and profitable to attack rap artists without any fear of reprisal.

We would like to ask Pepsi to reconsider it's actions and to reinstate Ludacris as it's spokesperson. Until then, we will not purchase any Pepsico products, including, but not limited to Pepsi, Pepsico International, Frito-Lay International, Tropicana Products, Inc., Gatorade, Quaker U.S. Foods and PepsiCo Beverages and Foods North America.

And to Mr. O'Rilley, to quote Ludacris,

"Move, bitch, get out the way!"
- from the single "Move B***h", WORD OF MOUF

SUPPORT FREE SPEECH AND ARTIST EXPRESSION!!!
- thedirtysouth.com