Verizon has pulled its sponsorship of Gwen's Sweet Escape Tour as a result of the disturbing video of Akon (her opening act) simulating sex on-stage with a girl who turned out to be only 15-years-old. The video made its way around the internet and his actions were so disturbing that it's no shock that there are professional repercussions.
Gwen's manager, Jim Guerinot, however, had this to say: "Akon has been a perfect gentleman on this tour. His show has at best been a PG show. Children of all ages have been attending. We have had no complaints -- nothing but satisfied people. And I would say that we're shocked that Verizon would drop Gwen Stefani as part of this whole debate."
Even so, losing the tour's main sponsor must be rough. Maybe it's time for Gwen to look into finding herself another opening act.
L'Wren Scott
Temperley London
Argos
Taking away the money makes a statement. I like the move.
1Much ado about nothing.
2That video performance was not PG. I didn't like Akon before and now I like him even less....
Yah, Nasty!!
3after that video floated around...i am just disgusted by akon.
and what is that awful tank top doing, gwen? that's just UGLY. gwen has no taste. period. choosing to tour with akon, while most likely being completely aware of this obscene act that akon has committed, also shows her lack of a brain as well.
4Not coming to Akon's defense at all, because I think doing that to any woman is obscene, but the 15 year old was in a club where she'd snuck into, and the legal age was 18 or 21, the show was not open to the underage crowd, calling him a molester is appropriate, but a child molester? he couldn't have known how old she was.
But I do think it's appropriate for verizon to pull their sponsorship. They have a right to associate their name with someone who won't tarnish it.
5i have certainly lost a lot of respect for akon. that video was very very disturbing. i know he most likely did not know her age, but it was still shocking
6I was surprised how many young kids go to Gwen Stefani concerts. There were a lot of kids under 10 when I saw her last tour. And as bad as this opening act might seem, Gwen swears constantly from the stage, so I question her as a role model for such young kids.
7Okay, don't hate me, but... Has anyone seen rap/r&b music videos lately? And was the girl dragged onstage and forced at gunpoint to dance? I am not saying it's right, I think the sexuality in the media is way outta control, but he did nothing worse than what we see all the time on TV, movies, music vids, yada yada.
8OMG !!!
that is really disturbing
what kind of opening act is that !!!! Shame on them both .. really !!!
9i don't think they should drop Gwen just Akon , because she had nothing to do with the all show.
10Wow, first of all I was so shocked and horrified after seeing the tape I remarked that now I had seen it all! I'm not really familiar with Akon, but I was a No Doubt fan who even saw them in concert in 02 or 03. Everything was really tame which is why I'm surprised that Gwen's people are not only standing up for this looser, but seem to be condoning what he did by saying his show was PG rated.
I thought Gwen would have him kicked off her tour after a gross stunt like that, which is why she deserves to have Verizon pull there endorsement. Oh yeah and Gwen will loose a fan in me if he doesn't get kicked off the tour, pronto!
PS I’m new to the board so Hi to everyone!
11WTF! they r idiots for that , sick!
i cant stand Akon ! what kind of opening act is that?!
PG huh..pff
~Aint nobody love you like i love you..~
12
I'm glad he got dropped. That sort of behaviour is inappropriate at any
age. Don't these people have any self-respect?!
13I'm not an Akon fan by any means, but:
She snuck into the club, he had the right to believe that everyone in there was of age.
No one forced her onstage and she sure as hell looked like she was enjoying it.
No one forced her to continue to participate.
No one forced her to wrap her legs around him.
Was is a misogynistic sexist display of male "power"? Hell yeah. Was it appropriate? Hell no. It wasn't my cup of tea. Was it a crime? No. She misrepresented herself and certainly LOOKED older than 15 in her grossly inappropriate outfit.
14I'm kind of split like everyone else, but I do not feel bad for this girl. I don't agree with that kind of behavior at any age, but like everyone else said, she knew what she was getting herself into, she snuck in, she did it all under her own will, blah, blah, blah. Teenagers are definitely not what they used to be when I was in middle school and my early years of high school, and that wasn't even that long ago!
I don't know if I agree dropping Gwen as well, it wasn't her fault. But I guess you gotta do what you gotta do. Gross Akon, gross.
15I can't see the video yet. Will have to wait till I get home. But, how was he supposed to know that she was 15, if she wasin an 18 over club? That part wasn't his fault. But, if this video is as vulgar as everyone said, then that part is his fault. But, the underage thing isn't.
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16Is butter a carb?
Verizon had to drop Gwen and Akon because Gwen didn't drop Akon. As long as she has him as her opening act, they are tied together. I'm so proud of Verizon for taking a stand! The stand that Gwen apparently wasn't willing to take. Especially now that she is a mother, I am shocked and disappointed that she didn't make a change. She hasn't even made a statement (that I'm aware of) on this. I emailed her website on this and my disappointment.
17I'm in my mid-twenties...and if he did that to someone in the same age group I would still be apalled. Why are we tolerating this kind of behavior?! And why have we become so desentized to it..that its kind of like..whatever?! Yes, a 15 y.o. shouldn't have been there...but he would of done the same thing to some other girl 21,31 etc...I would still be grossed out by it. He is a complete loser.
18PLEASE GWEN FIND ANOTHER OPENING ACT. I LOVE YOU BUT I DON'T THINK I COULD IN GOOD CONSCIENCE GO TO YOUR SHOW IF AKON IS OPENING.
19Is that performance his opening act for Gwen or something he did another time?
I think it's disgusting and nnecessary regardless of her age!!!
Also, I agree w/ etab that there's a larger issue of the portrayl of sexuality in the media and objectifying women.
20Why was Gwen taken out? That's not fair.
21He's a pig.
22I agree with you Vireland!!!!
Props to Verizon!
23I'm suprised Gwen didn't even make a statement about this.
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24Is butter a carb?
Yeah i agree with some of you about him not knowing her age but no matter her age he still did that in front of a crowd of people??? I don't care if they're 21 or 51 you don't do stuff like that with any girl in public, it was a stupid act on his part and he should be held accountable for it.
25Oh puhleese Akon did the dirty with a girl who knew what she was doing, was clinging onto him like a leech, was laughing and smiling the whole way through it, snuck into a bar knowing full well she was underage and yet Woody allen is still making movies.
What a facking liberty!!
26They are playing at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater here. Can't change that I guess?
27Akon is a moron.
"You smell like a baby prostitute."
28Well, I've got tickets for this coming Monday's show. We'll see if he's the opening act. That vid was GROSS. WTF is WRONG with people anymore?????
29I don't even know who he is but it kind of sucks that Gwen is getting hit for this. She can't control him onstage.
30Eww.
31If that was my child I wouldn't even be worried about Akon I would kick her a** so hard she'd be black and blue for weeks.
What a facking liberty!!
32i am so disgusted by that video, and he was just flinging and mauling the girl on stage with so many pple watching. and he just walked away suddenly. WTH??? Its gross, and totally disrespectful. just gross. being a female entertainer, Gwen should have been more discerning in her choice of performers.
33THAT WAS DISGUSTING!!!! I mean WOW!!
I had seen the pics and thought that by absolutely no means that girl looked 15 to begin with...but c'mon...EWWWW!!!
and everyone just cheering...the creepiest sh*t i've seen this week!!! by far!!!!
34Oh please people, if you saw the video several things should be apparent to you:
1. That girl looked much older than 14/15. And being that he was in an overage club he had full reason to believe she was OF AGE!
2. I would hardly call it disrespectful when they were dancing. TOGETHER. No matter how inappropriate the dance may have been for television, people dance like that all time in the club and performers request girls to come up and everyone expects that (as does the females who willingly get on stage).
This is not Akon's fault. I would say it is an unfortunate event .
3. Someone mentioned they don't care how old she is he shouldnt have done it. That's like saying you shouldn't receieve a lapdance from a stripper. You shouldn't have one night stands. I'm sure half of you do. He's human. Let it rock.
But most importantly, I'm disappointed that people are less concerned about the parents of the kid who was able to sneak into a club with grown men.
I'm disappointed that the club is not getting the finger pointed at them for having security/bouncers that loose.
I'm disappointed that a bunch of adults are commenting on the situation and can completely over look that as well.
Rant done. And no, I do not particularly care for Akon's music, but really.
35This has put Gwen in such a tough position.
36I heard about this on the radio, and now that I've seen the vid I'm even more disturbed! I heard that she was part of a dance contest on stage where the prize was announced as "a trip to Africa". When she won the contest she was grabbed by Akon and he started simulating sex on her and pulling her all over the stage. I don't think the girl sounds like she's having fun, I think she sounds nervous and scared. I don't care if the girl is 15 or 25, that is WRONG. I was really hoping when I heard about this incident that Gwen would drop him from her tour, I'm really dissapointed that that hasn't happened yet!!
37good. they are both talentless and annoying...they only have hit music cuz the selection on the radio today is all garbage so their garbage blends in...that "wind it up" song came on when i was shopping the other day and i literally had to leave the store it was the worst excuse for music i have ever heard. pharell should be ashamed and gwen should get back together with no doubt if she insists on forcing her crappy voice down our throats...at least no doubt make music not just some crap thrown together in a recording studio...akon needs to get over himself he's only popular cuz the whole culture that was once r&b and hip hop has disappeared and now we are stuck with the bottom of the barrel...I am glad Verizon did this maybe men will stop thinking its ok to act a certin way towards woman.
"stay far from timid, only make moves when your hearts in it and live the phrase sky's the limit."
38That video performance reminded me of the strip club that they dragged me to for my sister-in-law's wedding. Really raunchy. Even if the girl wasn't 15, I bet they would've been dropped from Verizon. Who wants to support public displays like that? ew.
~SwtAsSgr~
39Akon is a grwon azz man, so why should Gwen have to even justify what he did? Everything I have read said that Akon was at a club in Senegal performing, not Gwen's tour. Why do we continue to let these little girls run around half naekkid, sneak in clubs, and dance like wh*res but the "artist" is to blame when something gets leaked to the media? Would she had said something if the pics didn't get leaked? And her father's a minister too? Explain that BS! I hate Verizon anyway, stick to your guns Gwen!
40~Didn't yo momma tell you SexyNeverLeft!
I agree tezlaakire
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41Is butter a carb?
in response to tezlaakire:
Under no circumstances is it appropriate for a man to do that to a woman of any age regardless of who she is, where she's at, or her age.
You call that a dance? I don't know what clubs you're going to, but I've never seen people dance at a club like that while lying on the floor. I would never expect to be dry humped when called up onstage at a concert, nor would anyone that I know.
Not Akon's fault? He did this on his own free will - how could it not be his fault? This is under no circumstances an unfortunate event. An unfortunate event is a tornado destroying a whole town, your father passing away a month before your wedding... a 'singer' drying humping a woman onstage does not fall into this category.
I have to say I've lost some respect for Gwen for not dropping Akon from her tour, let alone not acknowleding that what he did was inappropriate. I applaud Verizon for showing that ethics, and not just making money, are a part of their business.
42Lastly, I am deeply troubled by all the people that think that Akon should be excused for what he did because the girl was not old enough to be in the club. The fact that people are not apalled by what is shown in that video is truly sad.
Um, wow - I remember hearing about that video, but I'd never seen it until now.
43notoriousrem_22 i agree. they dont sing, it's the computer's doctored voice. lol they both suck. no talent at all.
purplesugar, i also agree fully with you!! an unfortunate event is your mother committing suicide the day before you graduate highschool on the honor roll no less.
go Verizon go.
44I had read about this issue elsewhere yesterday and I felt bad for Gwen. What Akon did was out of her control and really inappropriate. But, hopefully she will be able to find a new sponsor as her tour is huge and there are lots of large companies that would love the exposure.
45Here's more for you guys ... He also did the same thing to Tara Reid as another guy was doing it from behind ... So it's not like this is a one-time deal. He's gross, and not a "gentleman" at all.
46SarahwithanH it is partly her fault, she had the chance to drop him as an opening act and DID NOT. that only shows she condones what is going on on her stage before she performs.
47was that something that happened on the tour? did verizon also know that akon is an ex convict,lol? it sucks that gwen is being dropped as well. i just saw them last sunday and they put on a great performance. they were as pretty PG as they could be because there were TONS of children. Lady Soverign, who was also touring with them, was the worst, i think every other word that came out of her mouth was f*ck.
48also maybe it's not as easy to drop him, it's probably up to her management?
49I watched the video and don't think it's that big of a deal. Verizon wouldn't have either if she was 18.
It was silly and stupid but guys love to showcase their bedroom abilities. This is nothing new...stop being so sensitive people he humped around on stage for thirty seconds move on.. the world is in crisis
People expect artists to be wild and over the top, while I don't like Akon or his music and I think it was gross the finger pointing is in the complete wrong direction
Watch "The Workout" on Bravo...look for Greg!
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