Priceless! Kyocera Dumps Ben Stein As Commercial Pitchman Because Of Denier Status

[hatrack]

EDIT

The Kyoto-based company has prided itself on its eco-friendly measures to combat global warming – in December, it won the annual award from Japan’s environment ministry in December, lauded for its initiatives to “cope with global warming.” According to the complaint, Mr. Stein responded to a question from the company seeking to ascertain his views on global warming that while he was concerned about the environment, “he was by no means certain that global warming was man-made, a position held by many scientists and political conservatives.” In addition, he asked his agent to tell Kyocera that “as a matter of religious belief, he believed that God, and not man, controlled the weather.”

Kyocera withdrew its offer about a week later, according to the complaint. The company explained to his agent it was because of “Ben’s official positions on various policy issues, but also statements widely attributed to him that appear on the web of which we have only lately become aware.”

Mr. Stein, known for his trademark dry voice, poindexter glasses and bow tie, has written about his views countering the theory that global warming is a man-made phenomenon in the past. In one 2005 commentary he raised doubts that it “even exists.”

Mr. Stein was to appear as an economist in commercials trumpeting the value of Kyocera and Kyocera Mita computers, the complaint says. He would also speak at a company event. According to the complaint, the sides agreed to a $300,000 employment contract, the amount Mr. Stein is seeking in damages, as well as additional costs like attorney fees.

EDIT

http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2012/01/12/actor-ben-stein-sues-kyocera-over-ad-campaign/

[immoderate]

1. Kudos to Kyocera for dumping Stein...

But WTF were they thinking in the first place?


--imm

[Javaman]

2. obviously no one thought to do any vetting.

I'm sure they will from this point on.

[whathehell]

3. Good. He's an asshat. n/t