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Jay-Z boycotts Cristal
Jay-Z announced that he will no longer drink Cristal and that his clubs will no longer serve it after controversial comments by the champagne producer's managing director. Frederic Rouzaud of Louis Roederer, the company that makes Cristal, told the Economist magazine that the hip-hop community's fascination with Cristal was viewed with "curiosity and serenity." When asked if the association with hip-hop could be bad for the company, Rouzaud said: "That's a good question, but what can we do? We can't forbid people from buying it. I'm sure Dom Perignon or Krug would be delighted to have their business." So Jay-Z has decided to do just that -- give Dom and Krug his business, both at home and at his 40/40 nightclubs in New York and Atlantic City. "It has come to my attention that the managing director of Cristal, Frederic Rouzaud, views the `hip-hop' culture as 'unwelcome attention,'" Jay-Z said in a released statement. "I view his comments as racist and will no longer support any of his products through any of my various brands including the 40/40 Club nor in my personal life." Jay-Z spokesman Ron Berkowitz added: "They're trying to distance themselves from the hip-hop community. The hip-hop world certainly helped elevate the presence of Cristal. At the end of the day isn't the goal for any company to sell bottles?" Jay-Z has mentioned Cristal in songs since the first track, "Can't Knock the Hustle," on his classic debut album, Reasonable Doubt. Jay sold bottles for $450-$600 at his two 40/40 clubs and plans to open more in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Latest news...
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