Jennifer Hudson, Ricky Martin Work Target Corporate Deals
Ricky Martin and Jennifer Hudson care less about Target's anti-gay political habits than Lady Gaga, apparently.
Both have deals with Target (Martin's started on January 21 in conjunction with his album Música + Alma + Sexo, and Hudson's begins today), and both reportedly performed last week at a corporate event for Target managers in Minneapolis.
Martin also performed (somehow I missed this) at a Target event in NYC on February 2.
The Star Tribune makes note of it:
Guess who did not perform at the Target managers meeting at Target Center Tuesday? Lady Gaga. Not that anyone expected her after her falling out with Target over the company’s donations to political action committees that she didn't approve of. She had a deal with Target to carry an exclusive version of her upcoming “Born This Way” album but she pulled out.
Other stars who do have deals with Target did perform for several thousand store managers on Tuesday.
Our spies report that Ricky Martin and Jennifer Hudson have rocked the day-long meeting thus far.
Matt Rettenmund at Boy Culture, asks:
"Okay, so everyone who was so upset with Lady Gaga, do you grant Hudson a pass because she has not presented herself as a gay role model, in which case your gripes about Gaga are completely narrow and only about whether or not Gaga deserves praise as opposed to pushing LGBT rights forward, or do you criticize Hudson with the same vehemence previously unleashed on Gaga?"
And what do folks think about Ricky's association with the brand?
At what point should musicians who present themselves as LGBT role models (and accept awards from GLAAD) turn their back on corporations that give to anti-LGBT causes, but whose support undoubtedly contributes to their bottom line? And what about celebrities who aren't seen as LGBT activists but have large gay fan bases?
Previously...
Statement: Target Surprised and Disappointed Lady Gaga Nixed Deal [tr]
Lady Gaga Dissolves Deal with Target [tr]
J Hud deserves some criticism. But at least she has never positioned herself as a gay rights advocate.
Ricky Martin on the other hand is a greedy moron. So on Monday he accepts a GLAAD award and on Tuesday he profits from homophobia.
Truly revolting.
F*** you Ricky Martin!
Posted by: SteveC | Mar 22, 2011 7:29:06 PM
Thanks, SteveC, for writing what I came to write. Like Ricky needs the money or can pretend to be oblivious.
Posted by: Paul R | Mar 22, 2011 7:36:57 PM
I...TOLD..U...TOWLEROAD..ABOUT...RICKY..MARTIN..WITH...TARGET...lol.but i cant wait for the gaga haters to make excuses for the pass they will give ricky etc in the comments
Posted by: sal | Mar 22, 2011 7:39:09 PM
"Okay, so everyone who was so upset with Lady Gaga, do you grant Hudson a pass because she has not presented herself as a gay role model, in which case your gripes about Gaga are completely narrow and only about whether or not Gaga deserves praise as opposed to pushing LGBT rights forward, or do you criticize Hudson with the same vehemence previously unleashed on Gaga?"
Nope. The self-hating brigade LOVES to pick on the most vocal supporters. Because they're the ones that shine the light on their closets and make themselves feel so afraid. But I'd love to hear how Ricky taking a Target deal and Gaga *not* doing so feeds into her label as a "user" of the gay community, which is every hater's hilarious argumentative cornerstone.
Posted by: Robert | Mar 22, 2011 7:40:42 PM
I am waiting a little while to see if either of them clue in and do something about their actions. I am not going to hold my breath though.
And yes, Ricky deserves the most criticism since you really can't get more Uncle Tom than him at this point.
Posted by: PDX Guy | Mar 22, 2011 7:43:52 PM
Ricky Martin repeatedly denied being gay until he decided to promote his autobiography and needed an angle to get the press interested in his has-been ass (see 2001 quote - "If I were gay, why not admit it?… I am a normal man. I love women and sex. I am a real hot-blooded Puerto Rican, but I have never been attracted by sex with a man.”)
I guess he is more interested in cash than human rights.
He's always been like that though.
Lady Gaga backing out pf her deal with Target gave huge exposure to Target's funding of extremist bigotry. Ricky Martin cannot pretend he is not aware of Target's CONTINUING funding of bigotry.
Clearly he does not care.
I think GLAAD should be asked if they think Martin still deserves his award.
Posted by: SteveC | Mar 22, 2011 7:44:07 PM
Gaga did deserve all the criticism she got when she made the deal with Target because of her image as an LGBT advocate. And she deserved tons of credit for pulling out of the deal. I don't care if it was planned or not, because it did indeed give a lot of exposure to Target's actions.
Same reason Target deserves a boycott because they present their image as the progressive big box store, then underhandedly undermine our rights. I don't think anyone would be surprised to find out that WalMart made donations to similar political candidates. The extra hypocritical factor from Target makes it twice as bad.
Posted by: PDX Guy | Mar 22, 2011 7:56:21 PM
I don't know much about J Hud's beliefs but I hardly think her handlers would have cared all that much about Target. Ricky Martin on the other hand is just befuddling. He's on his 'i'm gay and proud' narrative tour and this just seems out of left field.
Posted by: Gregoire | Mar 22, 2011 8:00:54 PM
SteveC
Re you second post.
Exactly. Tell me about it. But GLAAD is full of .....
Posted by: Rowan | Mar 22, 2011 8:01:55 PM
So, all of you who were repeatedly saying to any of us, who refused to be duped by Ricky-Tricky, that we were wrong about him just using his coming out for promotion purposes... care to emend?
And please, what exactly does "to clue in and do something about their actions" mean? The issue with Target is not new or unknown by ANY means. So yeah, all this time when we were talking about not buying Ricky Dearest? Things like THAT was what we had in mind.
Posted by: Sam | Mar 22, 2011 8:04:37 PM
How many times over how many decades does that vile little opportunist Martin have to demonstrate his narcissism and cowardice?
What will it take for gay men to understand that by any ethical standards, handsome is as handsome does, and that Martin is therefore a truly loathsome troll?
Posted by: Bryan | Mar 22, 2011 8:08:02 PM
You know, this just doesn't bother me in the slightest.
Yes, it isn't cool what Target did, but at the end of the day, you have to pick your battles. Picking fights with every store or celebrity who runs afoul of our sense of justice doesn't strike me as the wisest course of action.
I honestly think we've made significant progress and we need to tone down our hypersensitivity before we start to look like the trolls and the everyone starts thinking we're being abusive.
We should pick our battles wisely, then find ways to build bridges rather than trying to tear everything offensive down. As we start the downhill side of gaining our rights, the offensive things will largely take care of themselves.
Maybe we haven't reached that point yet; it's something we can debate. But I do know that we won't ever change some minds and can turn away people who might have been allies had we not been so strident. I'd rather ignore the former and make friends with the latter.
Posted by: Miche Rutledge | Mar 22, 2011 8:24:51 PM
Come on Gaga haters, you revolting turds. Where you at? CiCi's Pizza?
Posted by: itsybitsyspider | Mar 22, 2011 8:25:00 PM
Sam, my thought (and I'll admit it may be a reach), is that these people live in a bubble where their agents/handlers/whatever tell them what is going on in the world. They don't sit and browse blogs like you or me, and think for themselves. It took several weeks to get through to Gaga.
On the other hand, Ricky has been taking their money for months and even performing shows so I agree he is probably just a whore. And, of course, nothing like a celebrity whore to earn a GLAAD award.
Posted by: PDX Guy | Mar 22, 2011 8:27:21 PM
Ricky 'Uncle Tom' Martin's deal with Target makes a clear statement.
Ricky Martin does not want gay people to buy his music or attend his shows or read his fake-ass book.
Thanks Ricky - message received loud and clear.
Posted by: SteveC | Mar 22, 2011 8:27:33 PM
What this shows - more than anything - is what an amazing act of bravery it was for Lady Gaga, as an entertainer, as a musician, in a business in turmoil, to take on Target openly - demand substantial changes to their political and charitable giving policies - and then hold them accountable - and publicly walk away from the deal when Target did not fulfill their obligations to her and the gay community in any substantial or demonstrative way.
I have never thought much of Ricky Martin as an entertainer or as a person - this does not in any way change that opinion. If you told me he was going to french kiss a dog for money I would not be surprised.
I think less of Jennifer Hudson for doing this - which is as it should be. She has every right to pursue her career and audience in any way she chooses - and I have every right to hold her accountable for her choices.
Posted by: ricky | Mar 22, 2011 8:30:28 PM
Miche - you say: "we need to tone down our hypersensitivity"
I don't think it is being 'hypersensitive' to feel revulsion and disgust towards a gay man who accepts a GLAAD award 1 day, only for the next day to whore himself out to a corporation who funds the destruction of his civil and human rights.
It's contemptible behaviour.
Posted by: SteveC | Mar 22, 2011 8:33:43 PM
I think J-Hud has come out in support of gay rights. So therefore, both she and Ricky have made hypocritical and ignorant decisions, and shown that they are more concerned with the dollar signs than backing up their words, or supporting their gay fanbase. And for those who say this isn't a big deal, the head honchos at Target almost across the board have a homophobic history. Giving money to Target is giving money to the people who are disenfranchising you socially and legally, yet smiling in your face and telling you how much they love us. At this point in the game, we more or less know who our friends are and aren't. If you sleep with the dogs, you'll catch fleas eventually.
Posted by: Francis | Mar 22, 2011 8:35:29 PM
Ricky Martin strikes me as the type of person who would claim he was no longer gay, if the paycheque was right.
Bye, bye Ricky.
I suspect the next time we'll be hearing from that Uncle Tom is when he's whoring himself out as the wedding singer at Rush Limbaugh's next wedding.
Posted by: Stephen Murray | Mar 22, 2011 8:45:11 PM
It's satisfying to be part of an angry mob, but could our rage be just a bit simplistic?
Posted by: dingo | Mar 22, 2011 9:02:17 PM
You know, I believe that the gay community is sensitive to betrayal as we have the lot of us dealt with it on a very personal level. This is also why we tend to be fiercely loyal to our supporters. I find the anger towards Ricky and anyone else as a justifiable right. We deserve loyalty.
Posted by: Betrayal | Mar 22, 2011 9:13:46 PM
I missed the whole Target thing, I don't even know what you all are talking about so I can imagine the people that handle these artist careers are probably not spending a great amount of their time reading gay blogs.
Posted by: MickW | Mar 22, 2011 9:22:04 PM
chica also performed at george w. bush's inaugural, as i recall...
puta!
Posted by: r | Mar 22, 2011 9:24:54 PM
Not claiming to be an expert or anything, but checking the "Target" archives here, I find what appear to be statements from them regarding changes in donation policies because of protests. Perhaps they are lying, perhaps someone could enlighten me; but if they really have seen the error of their ways, why continue to hold the grudge? Why assume the worst of Martin? Is it possible he is aware, and was assured that Target has changed before he committed? I don't know, I just ask.
Posted by: TJ | Mar 22, 2011 9:59:20 PM
Hasn't GaGa said she is bisexual? I hate Rickey's boots. Total uncle tom.
Posted by: Patrick | Mar 22, 2011 10:01:39 PM