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November 07, 2005
Paramount's shame
Movie studio tries to profit off culture of real-life violence
SOURCE: Democrat and Chronicle (www.democratandchronicle.com)
(November 7, 2005) — Executives from Paramount Pictures didn't return calls we made to inquire whether billboards for 50 Cent's semi-autobiographical movie Get Rich or Die Tryin' will be going up in Rochester.
Paramount, which is producing the film, has received so many complaints from outraged citizens that it's funneling them to an answering machine that promises to "take into consideration all thoughtful comments."
Right.
Paramount, which has plastered posters of 50 Cent holding a gun in one hand and a microphone in the other near schools and scenes of gang violence, clearly doesn't consider anything but its bottom line.
Protests have forced Paramount to remove some of the billboards. Complaints should intensify.
In his song "Gunz Come Out," 50 Cent, whom Paramount is happily glorifying, raps "gangstas who signed with me actually let their guns talk." His entourage got involved in real-life gun battles with a rival rapper's outside a radio station earlier this year.
Companies must not get away with promoting the culture of violence.
Call Paramount at (323) 956-5000, ask for corporate communications and tell them to stop it.
Posted by andrewanissi at November 7, 2005 07:45 AM