Taco Bell Gets Pwned by 50 Cent

In a move to be cool and connect to their young demographic, Taco Bell made a colossal blunder.  Never. Mess. With. A. Rapper's. Street. Name. Ever.

According to AdAge,  "Back in July, the chain sent an "open letter" over the PR wires encouraging 50 Cent to drive up to one of their locations, rap his order and then change his name to 79, 89 or 99 Cent, just for the day. In turn, the Yum Brands chain would donate $10,000 to the charity of his choice."

For those of you that haven't read 50 Cent's (aka Curtis Jackson) wiki entry, I implore you to do it now.  The guy was shot 9 times close range by Mike Tyson's bodyguard in 2000.  50 was shot in the hand, arm, both legs, chest and left cheek.  Jackson rebounded but Tyson's bodyguard was gunned down 3 weeks later.  I could go on and on because his story is fascinating.  Oh, and the name "50 Cent"? Jackson says it's a metaphor for change.  Jackson chose the name "because it says everything I want it to say. I'm the same kind of person 50 Cent was. I provide for myself by any means."

Jackson sued Taco Bell for not getting his consent.  For a brand that's trying so hard to be cool this just reeks of desperation.

So this begs the question, would you ever mess with a guy that can't die and will provide for himself by any means?  I know I wouldn't.  50 Cent = 1 Taco Bell = 0. - John Herrington

Comments

[Paul Herring]

This goes under the category of any publicity is good publicity. There are probably a lot of people at Yum brands patting themselves on the back. It certainly doesn't do a whole lot for their brand positioning.