come on Russ...keep it real dawg...I know we have some bigger inner city problems you could tackle...

Russell Simmons joins fight against KFC
NEW YORK (AP) — Hip-hop impresario Russell Simmons has joined other celebrities and activists who have criticized Kentucky Fried Chicken, saying he will call for a boycott if the company doesn't reform its slaughter practices.
Simmons called slaughter practices used by the fast-food chain's suppliers "grossly inhumane" and has filmed a commercial "showing some of the very worst abuses chickens undergo" before they are served to customers, the Daily News reported Sunday.

Simmons, who is chairman of Def Jam Records and is a vegan, said he has talked to officials of Yum! Brands, the parent company of KFC, and said he will release the ad and start a boycott if the company does not reform its practices.

"When a company targets our community, disrespects us as consumers and sells us products ridden with negative energy and laced with toxins, that is our business," said Simmons.

Other celebrities and activists who have raised their voices against KFC include the Rev. Al Sharpton, comedian and social activist Dick Gregory, actress Pamela Anderson and musician Paul McCartney.

Yum! Brands vice president Jonathan Blum disputed Simmons' claim.

"We have an independent panel of outside experts who set our high standards," said Blum. "They are the same standards that all our competitors use to insure human treatment around the country."

He'll stand up for chickens that will be consumed but won't stand against the deterioration of hip-hop.

In this month's issue of Savoy, which has a feature on the current state of hip-hop, he was asked point-blank what would he change about hip-hop. He said, "nothing."

I have, almost by default, participated in the boycott and agree with the principle. But if Russell Simmons made money off of KFC, he wouldn't say a thing. That's because he -- the most powerful figure in hip-hop's history -- has not the stomach to take on his cash cow.

Why should I care about what stands Russell Simmons takes? He hasn't shown the courage to tend to his own garden.

It was suggested on a radio show that I listen to that he was paid for his support of this ban. Don't know if it's true but 60 minutes did a story about how celebrities are often paid to support charities and causes so it might be the truth.

Russ really has some small fish to fry.

reminds me of that old Saturday Night Live skit.."Save the Chickens"...which of course parodied all the all-star we are the world sing alongs...speaking of which...did anybody else think that Tsunami sing along at the Grammy's last night was horrid?

Supernova said:

There. Now he can eat that sentence.

RipHer2Shreds said:

Do they really make that???

+ = yum,yum

ironically, KFC doesn't grow/slaughter its own chickens. it gets its chicken from the same places everyone else gets theirs.