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Loading ...Rockstar Energy Drink donates money to LGBT organizations
Rockstar Energy Drink CEO Russell Weiner announced that his company will be donating $100,000 to several prominent LGBT organizations and expanding the company’s LGBT corporate policies.
The beverage company showed its support for the LGBT community in order to distance itself from Weiner’s father, the far-right radio talk show host Michael Savage.“It has recently come to ROCKSTAR’s attention that there might be a misconception about our company’s policy and my personal support for LGBT rights,” said Rockstar CEO Russell Weiner. “We apologize for that misunderstanding, and want to make clear today that our company fully supports our LGBT employees and our LGBT customers.”
The company will be donating money to the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada, a community-based organization located near the beverage company’s headquarters in Las Vegas. Money will also be given to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), The Trevor Project, and the National LGBT Bloggers Initiative.
“We’re grateful for the opportunity to support the work of these organizations, who are at the forefront of the struggle for LGBT rights in this country,” said Weiner. “We are proud to enhance our corporate policies and contribute to these organizations, and we hope that these actions clear up any misunderstanding or misconceptions about ROCKSTAR’s support of the LGBT population.”
The energy drink company has undergone controversy in the past regarding its ties to Savage. In addition to Savage’s son being the CEO of Rockstar, the controversial radio host’s wife, Janet Weiner, is the company’s CFO, treasurer, and secretary. The company had threatened to sue the Bilerico Project and other LGBT bloggers who covered their connections to the CEO’s father, but has since dropped the law suits.
Read the full press release at the Bilerico Project’s website here.
You can bet the phony religious right wing sicko Christain Taliban will go on an attempted boycott of the companies drinks. People get upset because so many of us jump up and down on the heads of religions. Well, when the kumbaya christians begin to take a loud and clear position against the wacko right wing branch of their religion then maybe the uproar will decrease. No, I’m not holding my breath.
They realized their lawsuits would never hold water so their trying now to be chummy with the gays! well, take the money and keep an eye on them i say!
While Savage is holding a major stake of shares in the company, raking in earnings, and supporting his son’s company – he’s spewing garbage about the LGBTQ community. Does 100k in donations solve the problem? Not one bit. It’s more like hush money at this point.
I’m glad that Rockstar dropped the lawsuits; it would have created more ill will than anything they could possibly gain.
Also, the choice of supporting gay organizations will say loud & clear that this is where the company stands. Acknowledge the father’s stance & clarify your own… after all we all know we can’t choose our families. We can, however, strive to mitigate any of their negative actions and ill will.
A business, especially a new “niche” type, which is trying to expand, requires a balancing act. One tries to hold on to current customers, while expanding their customer base. Yes, the company may now get pressure from the right wing-nuts, so observers will, indeed, watch for any back sliding on all fronts.
So, I agree with ‘Lee’; use the $$ for good, and keep an eye on the buggers!
Good for them! I have heard that they were anti-gay and prohibit my kids (teenagers) from buying their energy drinks, discussing the implications with them of supporting companies that don’t honor GLBT equally as others. This action goes a long way for me. I agree with other comments though that they should be watched and make sure that they truly embrace equality and diversity…but it is a good first step and positive sign. We should respond positively to them as well. Show coporations that when they treat us fairly, with dignity and respect, that they will see our pink dollars flow more freely.
Take the money! AND keep untrusting eye on them to “renig”!….personally, I don’t drink the CRAP, its not healthy!
“Rockstar” sounds fishy – does this have any association with playstation games advocating violence and hatred of gay men by shooting and blowing-up gay people and gay bars in a game?????
I say “thanks for the $”, but the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
bare in mind that Daddy Mikey has a major stake in the company and (as I recall) holds a patent on the drink’s formula. Michael Savage will still earn from this venture, GLBT donations or no.
Very pleased with the company and there actions. The lgbt community that was boycotting the company prior that will now purchase their products will offset any boycott from the right. anyhow doubt that any of the religious right were a high purchasing market of any energy drink much less ROCKSTAR lol smart marketing move, guys and thanks!
Very pleased with the company and there actions. The lgbt community that was boycotting the company prior that will now purchase their products will offset any boycott from the right. anyhow doubt that any of the religious right were a high purchasing market of any energy drink much less ROCKSTAR lol smart marketing move, guys and thanks!
Mike of WI: No, the two companies are not related at all.
No dice, sorry. If he wants me to purchase his products, he’ll have to convince his father to completely disassociate himself from the company. No ownership, no patent rights, no connection whatsoever, and he’ll have to publicly denounce his father’s crap. Until then, nice try, but you aren’t fooling anybody.
100,000 in hush money. Interesting, mommy savage is part of the company, and so if ole mikey is not, he still shares in the profits his wife gets. I’m not supporting this company. I’ll buy energy drinks from Coca-Cola instead.