Essay 510

I Hate Monday MultiCultClassics Monologues…

• Looks like everyone wants to smell like Puffy. Sean Combs’ new fragrance, Unforgivable, has been the top seller since its February 10 launch. The brand initially sparked controversy with its risqué ads, some of which were rejected by certain stores and publications. Based on the image above, things don’t seem any more lurid than anything else in the category.

• Mickey D’s is allegedly bracing for backlash from the upcoming movie titled, “Chew On This.” The flick is based on Eric Schossler’s best-selling book, “Fast Food Nation” — which presents an unflattering portrait of the practices of McDonald’s and other fast feeders. “McDonald’s is concerned because the film can take creative license and people can perceive those licenses with direct associations to McDonald’s,” said one expert familiar with the situation. Or maybe they’re concerned that the public will see the truth. Funny, Mickey D’s didn’t seem so concerned over “Super Size Me.” There’s something Filet-O-Fishy about this scenario.

• The New York Times reported New York City is losing a dramatic number of its Black citizens. Figures showed there were 30,000 fewer Black residents in 2004 than in 2000. While White New Yorkers tend to migrate to the suburbs, Blacks leave the area entirely. “This suggests that the Black movement out of New York City is much more of an evacuation than the movement for Whites,” said one demographer studying the moving patterns. Or maybe folks are just fed up with the Knicks.

• Nikkole Denson (pictured below), director of business development for Starbucks Entertainment, is feeling the love from Hollywood studios. Now that the coffeemaker is getting into movie promotion, all the studio bigwigs want to get a piece of the action. The Los Angeles Times reported Denson plans to back “uplifting, inspirational stories … most likely from independent companies … or studio specialty divisions.” Starbucks seems the perfect partner for movies — like theaters, the coffee place offers endlessly long lines and wildly overpriced concessions.