Jay-Z's clothing line sparks legal storm
Jay-Z's clothing line, Rocawear has sparked a legal storm over adverts featuring the family of a man shot dead by police just hours before his wedding.
The ads show the distraught-looking family of Sean Bell - and were released just one day before a trial started for three offices accused of killing him in a hail of 50 bullets.
Yesterday Rocawear was accused of playing a direct part in efforts to prejudice the trial. "This was a planned publicity stunt timed to influence the jury," said Michael Palladino, president of the Detectives Endowment Association.
In the ads, Sean's widow Nicole Paultre-Bell - who wed him posthumously - is seen holding the couple's two daughters Jada, 5, and Jordan, 1, with her wedding ring clearly on show.
Above the photo are her words: "We are going to be here to the end, 'til justice is served."
It is signed Nicole Bell and is a clear reference to her demand that the undercover cops involved in the controversial shooting get the toughest penalty possible.
Paultre-Bell's lawyer, Sanford Rubenstein, insisted the ads were nothing more than "uplifting".
He refused to say how much she's being paid for the ads and denied it was disrespectful to use her dead husband's case to sell jeans and shirts. "You can easily go negative with anything. She sees it as something uplifting," Rubenstein insisted.
Jameel Spencer, chief marketing officer for Rocawear, justified the ad, insisting the goal is to tell stories of people who overcome adversity. "It embodies the spirit of how Rocawear was born - how hip-hop was born," said Spencer. "We're trying to highlight different stories.
"Nicole, she really embodies the overall spirit of that. She's someone who's suffered a great loss.
"When that happens, you want to curl up in a ball and die. That's a tough thing. The day you're supposed to get married and something horrible happens."
Bell was shot to death by undercover NYPD detectives in November 2006 outside the New York club where his bachelor party had just been held. The wedding was scheduled for a few hours later.
The case sparked outrage when it emerged at least 50 bullets were fired and three officers are on trial for unjustified actions.
Detectives Michael Oliver and Gescard Isnora are charged with manslaughter and could face up to 25 years in prison. Detective Marc Cooper is charged with reckless endangerment and could avoid jail time.
Comments
PEOPLE ARE JUST MADD AT THE
PEOPLE ARE JUST MADD AT THE FACT THAT THE TRUTH IS HITTING THE PEOPLE AGAIN, ITS BEEN A WHILE SINCE I HEARD OF THIS, THOSE COPS SHOULD GO TO JAIL, HOW DO YOU KILL SOMEONE BEFORE THE WEDDING? DOES IT REALLY TAKE 50 SHOTS TO KILL SOMEONE?.. THOSE COPS DESERVE TIME, THEY DESERVE TO GO TO JAIL PRISON. THE JURY WONT BE INFLUENCED BY THIS, THIS NEWS IS ALWAYS IN THE MEDIA, NOW THAT ROCAWEAR IS DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT PEOPLE WANT TO BLAST THEM?!... GROW UP AND FACE THE TRUTH, THEY MESSED UP AND DONT WANT TO TAKE THE BLAME.
I LIVE IN NYC ALSO AND I’M
I LIVE IN NYC ALSO AND I’M WONDERING WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER VICTIMS OF THAT TERRIBLE NIGHT. WHY AREN’T THEIR FAMILIES GETTIN AS MUCH HELP AND ASSISTANCE AS “MRS. BELL”. THOSE OTHER TWO FAMILIES HAVE BEEN EFFECTED JUST AS MUCH IF NOT MORE. HOW CAN JOSEPH AND TRENT TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES IF BOTH GUYS CAN’T EVEN WALK WITHOUT PAINS OR SOME KIND OF DISCOMFORT. “MRS. BELL” CAN MOVE ON WITH HER LIFE IF AND WHEN SHE CHOOSES. SHE CAN GET HER ANOTHER MAN. UNFORTUNATELY, TRENT AND JOSEPH CAN’T PICK UP AND GET NEW LEGS. THEY CAN’T GO BACK TO THE LIFE THEY HAD BEFORE GOING TO CELEBRATE THEIR FRIEND GETTING MARRIED. JOSEPH HASN’T GOTTEN ANY FEELIN BACK IN HIS LEG DUE TO HIS INJURY AND HIS DIABETES. TRENT CAN’T PLAY OUTSIDE WITH HIS SMALL SON BECAUSE HE CAN’T STAND FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME TO KEEP UP WITH HIM. YES, ITS TERRIBLE THAT SEAN BELL NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO SEE HIS YOUNGEST CHILD AND THAT SHE WILL NEVER GET TO KNOW HIM PERSONALLY. BUT ITS HER MOTHERS JOB TO TELL HER OF THE KIND OF PERSON SEAN WAS. BUT DUE TO ALL THE MARCHES AND FUND RAISERS HER CHILDREN ARE SET. ITS TIME TO PASS THE BLESSINGS ON TO THE OTHER VICTIMS. HELP THEM REBUILD THEIR DAMAGED LIVES.
how in the hell can that
how in the hell can that commenter hate on Nicole Bell? why post her name in parenthesis "Mrs. Bell"? its obviously disdainful and just plain ign'ant. if you would like to get involved in starting a fund or rally or march in support of someone, ANYONE, then go right ahead. no one is stopping you from doing that. but if you're just going to complain about what other people are doing and giving and receiving, you need to get a life of your own. i'm just being real with you. either be a part of the solution or get out of the way.
now...im glad to see Rocawear doing different things with fashion. Fashion is supposed to make a statement. It is an ingenious idea for an ad because it really establishes Rocawear as a brand "for the people"... and there is no limit to the amount of support and loyalty people will give to that brand with the feeling that the brand is loyal to them.
kudos to whoever made that decision.
and the negative press is great too!
WOW I am amazed at the above
WOW I am amazed at the above disdain for this woman and her children: Who else is going to take care of her and hers...and what punishment is justifiable in those officers firing 50 rounds...I am proud to be black and proud of Rocawear. I am also saddened that the previously two posts don't recognize the significance in Rocowear bringing light to her ordeal and the unjust legal system and ignorance that still runs rampant in our country and government!!! I pray that the other victims and all involved receive justice...
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