Are soft drinks now off limits for celebrity endorsement?

Design student spec work, via Behance

Pepsi has long had a close relationship with "pop" stars: David Bowie, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson (before his hair caught on fire)... and show can forget this conspicuous consumption of advertising budget?



It just seemed natural that musical celebrities would go for the big sponsorship money. But suddenly, things are changing.

Adweek reports that Katy Perry, she of the whipped cream bazooka boobs, is taking heat from health groups over a summer Pepsi promotion tied into the MTV Video Music Awards.

In an open letter to the singer, the Center for Science in the Public Interest and six partners compares today's soft drink celebrity endorsements to the cigarette ads of yore: "'Drink Pepsi and you can be cool like Katy Perry,' is the takeaway message for your young fans. 'Live for now' and worry about the health consequences later."

They also produced this video:



I'm no fan of pushing too much sugar on kids. But have these people ever seen a Katy Perry video?

Hijacking Katy Perry's breasts for a cause?

FCKH8.com is one of the many causes I follow on Facebook. They're a pretty in-your-face LGBT advocacy group, originally formed to fight California's homophobic Prop 8 with joyful profanity.

I was a little disappointed at this tactic, however.

The topless pic was nicked from a 2010 photoshoot by Yu Tsai for Esquire UK.

The Facebook post reads:

KATY PERRY: "I am a gay activist & I say that proudly. I voted no on Prop 8, of course. I definitely believe in equality."
♥ 10% Off "STR8 Against H8" & "Chicks Marry Chicks" Tees, Tanks & Hoodies w/ Code "LOVE" @ http://FCKH8.com/"LIKE" the Cause on FB FCKH8.com

Here's the thing. FCKH8 are fighting the good fight. But using other people's work — and other people's likenesses — without permission is not cool. Especially when you're using their sexuality to sell your own t-shirts.

Second, using a woman's breasts to get attention is not exactly progressive marketing. Even if she says she's an ally.

You can do better, folks. You're too big for this.

Sesame Street loses its innocence

AP reports that a musical segment guest starring Katy Perry will not be shown on TV due to excessive cleavage:



AP: "Sesame Street said in a statement Thursday that in light of the “feedback we’ve received” after the bit was aired on YouTube, they won’t include it on the show."

Personally, I'm on the side of this comment on YouTube, from bcdflash:

"I don't get it! it's cute. the kids wouldn't see it as anything other than a fun song to hop around to, and dance 'til they're tired. Katy has boobs, mommy has boobs and even school teachers have boobs. Do you really think this is something shocking?? What sad and pathetic people won't complain about for attention."

If showing that much is bad for preschoolers, what must the complainers think about taking their toddlers to the beach? To the art gallery? Or anywhere where a woman might be *gasp* publicly breastfeeding?

Sure, the song is kind of lame. But the outfit is no more scandalous that what most under-30 women wear in their daily lives. By making a scene about "naughty" body parts, these parents will make their kids all the more interested — and it's that combination of shame and titillation, IMHO, that really leads to lost innocence.

It's time for America to overcome its Mammophobia. You are embarrassing us all.