The hate parade continues against BET as discussed in the following article.
BET Loses Sponsorship Over Content
hiphopdx.com
BET suffered another setback this week when several advertisers pulled spots from popular network programs due to images of violence and profanity.
According to Paul Porter of media watchdog group, Industry Ears and CNN, Proctor and Gamble, Pepsi and General Motors pulled their ads from Rap City and 106 & Park after the companies viewed “The Rap on Rap,” a content analysis of BET and MTV programming.
The study found that children were exposed to violence, profanity or obscenity once every 38 seconds.
According to a CNN report, BET Chairman and CEO, Debra Lee dismissed the study, saying the network pays attention to the content it airs and edits videos.
You can read the rest of the article here, but let’s skip down to the last comment made by Porter.
“I listen to the same crazy s*** in my car,” he says before adding, “but I’m not going to play it for a nine-year-old.”
There are a couple of things here worth addressing–
A. Porter proves out of his own mouth that despite his public flogging of BET over how Black women are portrayed, there is an audience out there for this type of entertainment–starting with his admitted choice. While music videos can be a bit graphic and demeaning to some, what about the lyrics? This is from Soulja Boy’ 2007 hit “Booty Meat”.
Yall Dis 1 Rite Hur Is For All Dem Gurlz Wit Dat Bootymeat
Bootymeat [X4]
[Chorus:]
Girl Shake Dat Bootymeat Dat Bootymeat Shake Dat Bootymeat Dat Bootymeat
Girl Shake Dat Bootymeat Dat Bootymeat Dat Bootymeat Dat Bootymeat
Gurl Shake Dat Bootymeat Dat Bootymeat Shake Dat Bootymeat Dat Bootymeat Gurl Shake
Dat Bootymeat Dat Bootymeat Dat Bootymeat Dat Bootymeat
[Verse 1:]
Gurl Shake Dat Bootymeat All Up On Me Soulja Boy
Up In This Thang Cum An Hang Wit Me Im Ya H Boom Coon Champaign Wit Me
Take A Bubble Bath Cum An Switch Lanes Wit Me Im Da #1 Stunna Let Me See What
You Got Im The Baller Round Town Let Me See How You Pop
Im Ya Gurl Best Friend Let Me See How You Hop
Put That Thang In The Air Then Make It Drop
Do a youtube search under this song and see just how many women have no problem shaking their “booty meat” for the world to see. My point? There is a demand for it.
And in case he didn’t get the memo, young kids LISTEN to the music as well.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoeayzyQqR8&hl=en]
B. Porter says “but I’m not going to play it for a nine-year-old.” He actually has a point here, but the point has two sides. Columnist Stanley Crouch brings up an interesting point about how much of BET programing is not affected by V-Chip technology. He writes:
Most importantly, perhaps, is the fact that Winter noted with the exception of one program on BET, neither BET nor MTV carried content descriptions that would work in conjunction with the V-Chip to block the programs from coming into the homes of parents or warn them about the presence of sexual content, suggestive dialogue, violence or foul language. (more…)
Here is a bright idea for both Porter and Crouch. How about blocking the entire channel? Most cable and satellite boxes give subscribers the ability to completely lock certain channels. As a parent, I do this myself in my home. If there is something I feel that is appropriate for my kids, I simply unlock it–that’s it. Plus, I can tell you from personal experience that V-Chip technology isn’t fool proof. I have seen many adult movies get through by simply not rating the show altogether.
Just as “Booty meat” does not represent the entire Black community, neither does Porter and his supporters. One of the greatest things about our nation is that it operates on SUPPLY AND DEMAND. If there is no demand for it, there will be no reason to supply it. Porter’s car stereo is certainly part of the demand chain on this issue. The ONLY responsibility any for-profit business has is to make money, not help raise kids. Adults like porter who feel that kids are being harmed with this form of entertainment should go talk to their parents and convince them to be responsible instead of expecting the industry (an entity solely motivated by supply and demand) to play nanny. Stand on THEIR lawns and demand they simply put a parental lock on BET. Nope! Won’t happen.
Ooops! I forgot to mention one last point. While Porter and the gang are pleased with the news that companies like Proctor & Gamble, Pepsi, etc. have pulled their ads from shows like Rap City, these same sponsors announced their sponsorship for the recent BET Awards–a show that celebrated the very music that is being reamed by critics.
BET, your name is Toby–SAY IT!!
by Duane on June 30th, 2008 at 5:28 pmThe hate parade continues against BET as discussed in the following article.
You can read the rest of the article here, but let’s skip down to the last comment made by Porter.
There are a couple of things here worth addressing–
A. Porter proves out of his own mouth that despite his public flogging of BET over how Black women are portrayed, there is an audience out there for this type of entertainment–starting with his admitted choice. While music videos can be a bit graphic and demeaning to some, what about the lyrics? This is from Soulja Boy’ 2007 hit “Booty Meat”.
Do a youtube search under this song and see just how many women have no problem shaking their “booty meat” for the world to see. My point? There is a demand for it.
And in case he didn’t get the memo, young kids LISTEN to the music as well.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoeayzyQqR8&hl=en]
B. Porter says “but I’m not going to play it for a nine-year-old.” He actually has a point here, but the point has two sides. Columnist Stanley Crouch brings up an interesting point about how much of BET programing is not affected by V-Chip technology. He writes:
Here is a bright idea for both Porter and Crouch. How about blocking the entire channel? Most cable and satellite boxes give subscribers the ability to completely lock certain channels. As a parent, I do this myself in my home. If there is something I feel that is appropriate for my kids, I simply unlock it–that’s it. Plus, I can tell you from personal experience that V-Chip technology isn’t fool proof. I have seen many adult movies get through by simply not rating the show altogether.
Just as “Booty meat” does not represent the entire Black community, neither does Porter and his supporters. One of the greatest things about our nation is that it operates on SUPPLY AND DEMAND. If there is no demand for it, there will be no reason to supply it. Porter’s car stereo is certainly part of the demand chain on this issue. The ONLY responsibility any for-profit business has is to make money, not help raise kids. Adults like porter who feel that kids are being harmed with this form of entertainment should go talk to their parents and convince them to be responsible instead of expecting the industry (an entity solely motivated by supply and demand) to play nanny. Stand on THEIR lawns and demand they simply put a parental lock on BET. Nope! Won’t happen.
Ooops! I forgot to mention one last point. While Porter and the gang are pleased with the news that companies like Proctor & Gamble, Pepsi, etc. have pulled their ads from shows like Rap City, these same sponsors announced their sponsorship for the recent BET Awards–a show that celebrated the very music that is being reamed by critics.