Russell Simmons Promises More Branding Of Occupy Wall Street

Russell Simmons has been attempting to co-opt the Occupy Wall Street movement for quite some time now, even though not everyone wants him to be there (he has been asked to leave countless times—see below video). Yet he returns to show his face, push his Rush Card debit card, make a few statements to the cameras, and get his photo taken. Recently, he even pat his pal Jay-Z on the back for introducing an "Occupy All Streets" t-shirt to the Rocawear clothing line. Thing is, Rocawear is profiting from the sales, and not giving a dime to the protesters (so far, that fact hasn't changed). Now Billboard magazine has published an interview with Simmons, after tossing him some softballs last week. When asked about the t-shirt, Simmons says:

What's wrong with selling goodness? There's nothing wrong with it. It's not the most preferred. In yogi scripture, at least, the highest form of giving is giving without expectation. Selfless. But a lot of people need incentive.
You should sell things you're happy about. You should sell products that you're inspired by, that promote lasting and stable well-being. Give the world something or sell the world something that you're proud of. Jay-Z didn't make a T-shirt [that said] "Fuck the Bums on the Street." He wrote a T-shirt "Occupy All Streets"—I'm happy, it furthers the movement, it inspires the movement.

Listen, I'm going to get every corporation that wants to support us to get branding as part of the process. No one's against business. We're against business having too much control over our government.

"Fun" fact: Simmons and Rocawear outsource their clothing manufacturing to Mexico, which Simmons has addressed recently via Twitter, saying, "If the congress didn't make it impossible to make clothes in USA I would. If I tried, the American jobs I give would go away #ows." So, Simmons and his higher ups aren't willing to cut their inflated salaries to create more American jobs, yet he is hijacking a movement that is about corporate greed and the unemployment problem in the U.S.? What was that Jay-Z lyric from "Monster"? "All I get are these vampires and bloodsuckers."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on November 17, 2011 3:05 PM

Comments [rss]

chee1rs

$$$$$$$$$

izzy isou

This guy is an ASSHOLE.

Michael

I may be anti-OWS, but russell simmons and JAY Za are a publicity seeking moneyhound scumbags. Those guys will never have enough money....They would sell their own kids for profit. Reality show for Russell's kids and ex-wife already. I'm sure Jay Z will do the same. No class. No class at all. I would throw both thier asses out of OWS if they show up again. They are like the anti-christ to what you all believe. Pathetic. None of those celebrities should eb showing their faces down there.....That'd be like ME coming to support you guys--which you KNOW I never would. At the same time, I'm not trying to profit off of you either....and I'd never do that. I have some morals.

knayte

Is that Mister Slave yelling in the background of that video?

User_Name_User

I hope people boycott all Simmons and Jay-Z products. Half of what Jay-Z raps about is the stuff he buys with his piles of money. And he's a part owner of the Nets. He shouldn't comment on OWS at all.

jonathan

Isn't it great when big time celebrities make money off of social movements? Makes me proud to be an American. Why to fight the dream guys.

Red Ryder

Russell Simmons doesn't care about this.

birdtird

He does however, care if you sign up for a rush card.

It might be kinda ironic when peoples start to occupy his front lawn, no?

splicernyc

Carpetbaggers.

"Tim Osman"

Russell can make all the money he wants, good for him! But when he stands there for his photo op he better be prepared to hear some of the truth.

kgnyc

He's just looking for something new to sell since Phat Farm only has 4 items on their website that are selling for 20% of the original price. I smell desperation.

siliconsoul

At least give some of proceeds to the cause if you really care, douche!

moocow

You can see he has an ear bud in, anyone know why?

avenuehebrew

Daniel does not seem to know what he's talking about.

He's wearing an earpiece because he's being interviewed remotely. Notice that there's no reporters there with him -- it's only Russel and the camera crew. Whoever is interviewing him, they're talking to him from a studio while he answers them on the street. So he's hearing their questions through the earpiece.

pendejito

I thought he just worked security part time at the mall.

Daniel

Thanx for that, that's why I said probably. I was wondering about that.

Daniel

He's probably listening to messages while talking to the reporter. Rustle may be cutthroat, but the man was always a business multi-tasker. How else does a college drop out create a record company that turned him into a self-made millionaire. Granted he's never really been nice along the way, but he did it on his own.