Entertainment

Bounty and Beenie remain on bMobile campaign

( left - right ) Bounty Killer and Beenie Man - file photos

ALTHOUGH CABLE AND Wireless has refused to sponsor events with artistes Beenie Man and Bounty Killer, the company has decided to keep them in their bMobile advertising campaign.

"What I can tell you is that both artistes will continue to be part of our bMobile promotions and advertising," Errol Miller, Corporate Communications Manager at Cable and Wireless told THE STAR.

Both artistes are a part of a wide promotional campaign involving several dancehall artistes including Brick and Lace and Wayne Marshall. The advertising and promotional campaign also includes billboards, television, radio and newspaper advertisements.

Mr. Miller did not state why the artistes were kept in the advertising campaign, although the company has refused to sponsor events on which they appear.

Corporate sponsors

In April, Cable and Wireless along with six other companies who dubbed themselves 'a coalition of corporate sponsors' had announced that they would no longer sponsor events on which Beenie Man and Bounty Killer will appear until further notice.

According to a statement released by the coalition, the decision had come in the wake of the artistes' performance at the Jamaica Carnival's Last Hurrah where profane language was used by Bounty Killer while Beenie Man incited the audience to use the same.

Following the incident Cable and Wireless had said that it had not decided if any action would be taken against the artistes who are also a part of their bMobile advertising and promotional campaign.

The coalition said the artistes' behaviour was a violation of three principles on which the companies are committed which include their refusal to sponsor acts or events whose live performances incite violence, demean or discriminate against any person or include the use of indecent or profane language.

The coalition also said in the statement that the companies had a responsibility to to their stakeholders to ensure that their marketing reflects their corporate values and a responsibility to the public to act within socially acceptable standards.