I love Lady Gaga. She just totally used her star power for good instead of evil.
All set to release a limited edition version of her single "Born This Way," Lady Gaga recently sat down with the executives at Target -- no word on what she was wearing -- for a little negotiation. She asked that the retail giant increase support for equal rights charities and make amends for previously supporting political candidates perceived as anti-gay. And *hooray* Target agreed!
Go Gaga!
In case you missed it, Target got knocked fairly heartily last year by the LGBT community and equal rights supporters for their $150,000 donation to MN Forward, a jobs-focused political organization in Minnesota. MN Forward then donated a significant portion of that money to Tom Emmer, a Republican candidate for governor, who had a track record of opposing gay rights initiatives and who ultimately lost to Democrat Mark Dayton.
By the end of their little sit-down with Gaga, company chiefs at Target promised to give more to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community -- and, in return, Lady Gaga granted them permission to sell the special edition of her hit. After all, the song has already been deemed the new upcoming "gay anthem." Let's put at least some of its profits in the right pockets.
Gaga told Billboard.com:
That discussion was one of the most intense conversations I've ever had in a business meeting. Part of my deal with Target is that they have to start affiliating themselves with LGBT charity groups and begin to reform and make amends for the mistakes they've made in the past.
Our relationship is hinged upon their reform in the company to support the gay community and to redeem the mistakes they've made supporting those (anti-gay) groups.
Excellent work, Gaga. She not only gathered a little monetary support for the gay community that largely supports her music, but she also made a bold statement about what a business partnership with her needs to look like. Although small to start, what a positive beginning -- as well as a lovely thank-you gift and a great message to corporations.
What do you think of Gaga's negotiation?
Image via Lady Gaga
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Comments 10
This might be the best thing I read all day. I'm a Little Monster!!
Since when is blackmailing someone a good thing?
Andrew - Blackmail (http://www.dictionary.com/) - to extort money from (a person) by the use of threats.; to force or coerce into a particular action, statement, etc.
It seems to me that blackmail is the perfect description of what she did. She is making Target give money, and "start affiliating themselves with LGBT charity groups".
Sure sounds like blackmail to me!
I wish I liked her but I just can't and don't. I don't know why. I also don't see how anyone has the right to "force" anyone to endorse something against their will like this. I feel Target should be able to donate their money where they want. If I'd have been them I would have told her to peddle her wares somewhere else. It's not her company and I feel she acted like a bully.
It's business, not blackmail or bullying. They had every right to say no or disagree with her terms.
She is threatening their business. By not allowing them to sell her cd's, they could lose major revenue.
I think she has every right not to want to associate herself with a business that supports organizations who campaign for beliefs she is against. It shows she has a conscience, something you can't say for every public figure out there. How hypocritical would it be of her if she didn't bring it up? Kudos