The group Animal Advocates of Arizona is behind a boycott against the companies which are sponsoring “The Michael Vick Project,” a reality show featuring the convicted felon, now airing on BET. The show began airing on Feb. 3.
Plans for the show were announced a few months ago, amid a great deal of criticism about Vick’s motives for the show. Many believe that the NFL quarterback is not truly remorseful for his crimes, and should not be given another opportunity for more fame and money.
In October 2009, Vick told the Los Angeles Times: “I just want people to really get to know me as an individual. What I want to do is change the perception of me. I am a human being. I've made some mistakes in the past, and I wish it had never happened. But it's not about how you fall, but about how you pick yourself up.”
What Vick calls “mistakes” were actually felonies which could have sent him to prison for much longer than the 18 months he spent incarcerated. The fact is, he spent years torturing and killing defenseless animals.
When police raided Vick’s house in Surry County in 2007, they found 65 dogs (nearly all pit bulls), a dog-fighting pit, blood-stained carpets, and various equipment commonly used in dog fighting.
One of the items found on Vick’s property was a ‘rape stand’ which is a device in which female dogs are strapped into and restrained, to allow a male dog to breed with her.
According to the federal indictment, when dogs at Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels lost a fight, or failed to perform well in ‘test matches,’ they were routinely killed by methods including electrocution, hanging, drowning, and in at least one case by “slamming” the dog’s body onto the concrete floor. In one session in April 2007, at least eight dogs were killed through these methods.
Vick took part in these executions along with his partners Purnell Peace, and Quanis Phillips. The indictment detailed a March 2003 incident, in which a female pit bull who had just lost a match was killed. Vick and Peace decided to kill her by “wetting the dog down with water and electrocuting her.”
Incidentally, those aforementioned details were not mentioned last week’s debut episode of “The Michael Vick Project.”
James DuBose, executive producer for Vick’s show said: “This show can be a blueprint for so many kids. I want to show them that things are going to happen, that they're not going to get through life without dealing with some kind of adversity. I want to show that if they have a fall from grace, this is how they can turn it around. We want this to be a story of hope.”
While it may be difficult for anyone to see how someone who could regularly drown, electrocute, and beat dogs to death the way that the new Eagles Michael Vick did, he has in fact become a role model once again…that happened when the NFL readmitted him.
Kathy McKee of Animal Advocates of Arizona has compiled the following list of sponsors for Vick’s show:
-Nivea
-Buick
-Bally’s Fitness
-Denny’s Restaurants
-Footlocker
-Nationwide Insurance
-Applebee’s
-Sprint
-Pizza Hut
-Dave and Buster’s
-Broadview Security
-Loreal
Comments
You people just don't get it... You can protest until the cows come home, it's not going to change anything! He has a right to get a job and make money in whatever field he chooses to. He did the time for his crime ( in jail) and even paid one million dollars to help rehabilitate the dogs he owned, while in prison.
Here's a tip.... If you don't like Michael Vick, don't watch his show and don't spend your day googling his name! You guy's are beginning to stalk this guy for heavens sake...LMAO! If you guys' worry more about dog fighting and less about how much money Vick is making, maybe we can have a real shot at ending dogfighting! You can't stop his redemption...thought you guy's would have learned that by now....oh wait, this is just an attempt to get your names in the press at Michael's expense!
I have to laugh at these protests and petitions. You are only bringing attention to the show. Which in turn brings attention to the sponsors thus, bringing in revenue to these companies for which you seek to boycott. Your tactics are a failure in relation to the overall goal. Good luck in your endeavors! As for me, I will continue to use my Sprint phone and order a pizza from Pizza Hut during every episode for the "Mike Vick Project" : )
u people just dont get! the man did his time for his crimes. what? u gonna protest the rest of your lives! i dont hear anything about u people trying help stop dogfighting!just micheal vick! i will continue too watch his show and i will continue to watch him play football!get a life people!
Vicks rich an getting richer and you haters just can't stand it. He will be starting for some team next season and no one except you will protest him. Can't you all find something better to protest like something that affects people! GET OVER IT, Vick has.
These people need to get a life. Vick has served has paid his debt to soceity. Humans abaondon their own children and don't do any jail time. These dogs were his property and he paid for them. You wouldn't jail someone who burned down their own house, you would just say oh well it is their house. You people need to stop hating this millionare. He owes us nothing. He never should have gone to jail anyway!
No, You don’t get it!!!! It is unbelievable that you have no compassion, you are so callus and insensitive to suffering that you believe Vick is not accountable for his actions. I do wonder if the Vick supporters don’t have a bit of Michael Vick’s mentality and capabilities within them and therefore it is easy to identify with him and excuse his actions. Vick is a sociopath, a psychopath and an idiot. I plan to boycott every one of the sponsors.
People, GET A LIFE! Sooooo many people have done a lot worse that what M Vick did, like killed a human being and got off! Mother's kill their children and get off because they were post mental, Whatever! Please! I agree, killing the dogs were wrong but the man went to trial, was convicted/paid his dues! All of you haters, have you not done anything in your life that you probably should have spent time in jail for but didn't get caught by God's Grace! None of us are perfect and have done something dumb in our lives that warrant jail or whatever! If you say you didn't, you're are probably a lyer and God speaks against all lyars! People killing, Dog killing, Cock fighting, deer/turkey killing (hunting as some call it), crocodile/alligator, chicken killing etc. is all KILLING, law or no law! As a matter of fact, a few others have been caught abusing/killing dogs/cats, but Michael Vick, the rich black man, is the only name you hear of! God help us all! Always ready to point the finger!
Why don't you get off your soapbox and get a life? I don't care what color somebody is - what Michael did went beyond wrong. He tortured, mutilated, and with his own 2 dirty hands murdered an animal who, unlike people, had done nothing to him. You bet I'm going to point the finger at this useless SOB. I don't care if he did serve the time the court gave him - it wasn' t nearly enough.
First, Im calling applebee's on my sprint phone for a reservation, than Im driving my buick to buy me a vick jersey at footlocker. Later that night I will order some Pizza Hut while watching the Michael Vick Project. I'll probably go work out at Bally's Fitness come home and wash my fash with Nivea face wash!
Thanks for the list. I will boycott them. I used to think one person boycotting didn't matter much but found it does make a difference.
I appreciate the list and I'll start tonight by switching to Dominos after all these years ording Pizza Hut...what a waste of my life! I am also changing my insurance fron Nationwide to State Farm. It's funny that Michael Vick is supposed to be doing so much to stop dogfighting, but where are all those dog fighters from his past life that he didn't turn in? Plus, I can always know who's writing a comment. Black people always use the word 'haters' when refering to white people.
Some of you commenters - do you UNDERSTAND what this psychopath Vick did? He repeatedly tortured animals to death and LAUGHED about it. He never pleaded guilty to animal abuse, only to gambling. I believe it is only a matter of time before he will be in the news again for beating a woman or killing a man. Once a psychopath, always a psychopath. And it is, thank goodness, a free country, in which I can use the products I choose. I choose not to use products that would help a psychopath become richer. If you have a problem with that, do something different. Dogs are his "property." Are you kidding? That is the same language slaveholders used to use when justifying their right to beat, rape and kill their slaves. Surely that's not the kind of company you want to be in, genius.
You're an idiot if you think people who dogfight are psychopaths. Have you ever left the country you small minded fool? You are completely mischaracterizing what "dogfighting" is... A gross misunderstanding. It's a terrible thing but it is not on the same level of beating women and molesting children. YOU NEED to back off...
If "animal rights" activists really wanted to help stop dogfighting they would now support Vick. He is now doing more than you morons could ever do... Think about it you self righteous idiots. Get the thorn out of your own eye before you judge so harshly.
He also has creditors that he has to pay after his bankruptcy. Wait until he doesn't have such a desperate need for money and then see what he does - or doesn't do.
Paul you’re an idiot! What part of maliciously, sadistically torturing animals and enjoying the processes don’t you understand.
After reading the above comments I would like to add mine. I have contacted many of the companies advertising on that show and have been receiving replies that they buy blocks of hours and that BET rotates the advertising through the different shows. Most of the replies have been that the companies have requested to be taken off that program so contacting the advertisers does matter. As for the people that are standing up for Vick they are the ones that watch and bet on dog fighting. You can't change them, just feel sorry for their ignorance. Vick is beyond redemption - live with it. The only good thing that came out of this mess is that the American public was made aware of the horrors of dog fighting. We can't change Vick, but his day of reckoning will come when he meets his maker. So please, those of you so inclined keep up with contacting the NFL, the Eagles, BET, and the advertisers. That way you can live with yourself and let his supporters rot with him.
Protestors are hilarious...protest something that would actually make a difference. Rally together to do something about healthcare or how to stop the war or get jobs for the unemployed. Get over it already, i mean seriously build a bridge and get over it. You are not the Almighty and you do not decide anything. This man has did his time. I will continue to watch it no matter what you say. Nice try!...and like someone said if you want to stop dogfighting then do so and leave Michael Vick alone, karma is real.
Pizza Hut replied to my email and said the ad ran by mistake and they had BET pull their ad from the show. I've read that a few other companies did the same thing.
What Vick did was more than a "mistake" it was torture and killing innocent dogs. He did this for sport, bank rolled the dog fighting operation and ran interstate bets. He lied about all of it to his coach, team owners and NFL, until there was no room for him to lie anymore. The only remorse I have seen is for getting caught, every comment/interview/speech he makes is all about him and his excuses. Got to give his high priced PR team props, they certainly have left no stone unturned. I have always respected Tony Dungy, but think that Tony just wants to see the good in everyone, and right now Vick has him fooled. Vick is still on probation so he is currently keeping his nose clean. He has a long history of bad and illegal behavior.....let's not forget spreading STDs, filing bankruptcy, stealing from pension, suspected in murder of 2, children out of wedlock with 2 baby mammas, failed drug tests, suspected of steriod use...and on and on.
Thank you for providing the sponsors, I have contacted all by email. I encourage everyone who is disgusted by Michael Vick to not only send emails to the sponsors of this show but to NFL, BET and Eagles.
Here we go again...It's great MV still have so much impact in our society. Where were the protesters before MV, so save that bs now. Protest deer hunting, because it's just as cruel don't you agree. A dumb you know what sitting in a tree waiting on a innocent deer/animal to come by to shoot it to death. Yeah you guys are so double standard but I think its funny you hate him so much. We still got his back we believe in him!!!
Pssstt... To the ignorant Vick supporters - we are not "haters" (are you?) and we ARE making a difference. Sponsors are droppping the show left, right and center because of our letters and their enlightenment.
Anyway, as of tonight 2/9/10- Add Subway, McDonalds, Progressive, 7Up, Lysol, Walden University, CT Parenting.com, 5 Hour Energy drink, Ford, Hotwire.com and Mobile as sponsors. Keep fighting and emailing/writing these misguided companies folks. It IS working!
People don't bother defending this to the Vick supporters - they are qualified trash who need an idol like that to look up to simply becuase their own lives are such crap, at least that is how I discount them. The proof is in the results: Nivea, Pizza Hit, Nationwide, Dave and Buster's and Loreal have already dropped their ads with the show based on public outcry, so it's clearly working and their are a lot more classy people than trashy people.
Hey, Ex-Marine- You say "A dumb you know what sitting in a tree waiting on a innocent deer/animal to come by to shoot it to death." Um.. maybe you should have stayed in the Marines, better yet stayed in grade school. Get a clue. Thanks for the chuckle though.
Barbara - No worries, Nationwide have now publically issued a press release announcing that they asked BET to pull their ads from the Michael Vick Reality Show and that they do not support the program and do not wish to have any association with it as have Nivea, Pizza Hut, Denny's, L'Oreal and Dave and Busters. Great job to all writing. But, many more to go.
If you go to Facebook and add Andrew Kirschner- he gives daily updates on sponsors dropping the show and direct contacts to write to for the unenlightened sponsors. :)
To all the vick supporters. Its not that we think you are idiots, its just, we don't understand why we should let him go so easily. He says that he was brought up this way, which many of you must have been too. Is that why you forgive him. Because there are alot of people being raised to be racist nazis too, but we don't seem to hear much defense for them even though they were raised that way. It takes a weak person to just forget what he did, it takes a strong person to stand up and fight for whats right. I doubt this is what MLK was dreaming when he wanted equality. A bunch of jackasses that kill dogs. On behalf of the dogs Michael Vick fought, kicked, shot, hanged, electrocuted, drowned, and tortured.
We would like to relay to all of the reader’s that Dave & Buster's does not sponsor the show and is no way affiliated with it. We do advertise on the BET network, but have now instituted tighter guidelines regarding when and what programs our spots are aired.
The Dave and Buster's team
The subject of M. Vick is a tricky one for me. I knew about the dogfighting, even the dog killing. I was not aware that he seemed be, for lack of a better way to put it, trying out different ways of killing his animals.
At present Mr. Vick is working with the Humane Society of the United States as part of his community service obligation. Here is a link to some statements they have made about his case and about their decision to allow him to work with them:
www.humanesociety.org/search/search.jsp?query=vick
The ASPCA also has blogged about their feelings:www.aspca.org/blog/ed-sayres-the-road-ahead-for.html
I guess I hope that Vick is sincere in his efforts to redeem himself for his past actions. I hope that he can be effective in ending what is, in some of these statements, presented as an urban culture of dogfighting. I have no desire to see him be made a hero, but if he is to have a reality show, perhaps he can use some of his time to educate vs. dog fighting
i'm outraged that this sorry excuse for a human being even has the chance to be on television. What kind of sick *uck does what he did to those dogs. I cannot believe this guy is even out of jail...he should have gotten life or the death sentence. I hope enough people join together to stop this show from airing. I will definatley be boycotting all supporters or sponsors of the show.
Paul and all you other ignorant fools that think there is nothing wrong with what Vick did - then why not join the ring?? We have always been taught to treat others how you want to be treated, right? Well then if it's ok treat others that way - let us do the same to you.
We would like to relay to all of the reader’s that Broadview Security does not sponsor the show and is no way affiliated with it. We do advertise on the BET network, but have now instituted tighter guidelines regarding when and what programs our spots are aired.
The Broadview Security team
Mr. Vick will have to do MUCH more work for animals to convince people that he has reformed and that he is not a torturer of animals. We are NOT convinced that he is sincere, but continue to have open minds and hope that he will redeem himself. Right now we see him as a cruel and vicious, unthinking and uncaring exploiter of animals. Race has nothing to do with it. My friends and relatives feel the same as me - we are dog lovers for life and we do not watch this heinous man who just a few months ago enjoyed dog fights. We are still boycotting the sponsors of his show until we see a sincere change, meaning MUCH more effort on his part to help end animal abuse. We, the public, need to be very careful of who we consider to be role models.
You Vick lovers are f-ing clueless. He never did a minute in jail for the killing and torture of the dogs. He's no better than a child molester and he'll never change. He's lower than pond scum on the evolutionary chain.
I will 100% boycott any company that supports that scumbag.
There are a whole bunch of you that don't get it. No one wants to take Vick's job away from him. He can continue to live his life and make amends.
However, sponsors should stop making this man a celebrity because in doing so they are justifying the killing of 35 dogs and the untold suffering of many more. He is not a role model and never will be.
Vick never served a day in prison for killing dogs or abusing dogs. He went to prison for gambling, something his astute lawyer plea bargained for. If Vick had been convicted of 65 counts of animal cruelty he could have spent over 50 years in prison.
Someone else mentioned that people have done worse. So what? Morality is not relative. Vick said while he was killing dogs he never realized it was wrong. Do some of you Vick supporters have family pets? Could you look your dog in the eyes and watch it drown?
These dogs clawed at the pool and bit the sides to try and get out. The evidence is still there. They bloodied their paws and jaws in an effort to live while Vick and his friends stood by and watched. Did they make bets on how long a big pit would take to drown? Did they shove the one dog that got a foothold on the edge back into the water to swim and swim until it finally, exhausted, drowned? The dogs died slowly and horribly.
Which one of you will admit that after the 5th dog killed or the 10th or the 20th wouldn't feel some guilt over your actions? You Black Cat? You Keish? You sjr?
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