# Biggest (Most Disappointing) Celebrity Sellouts **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 13, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344 "2009-03-13T17:13:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/41 "2009-03-14T07:01:02Z")
Not quite a sell out, since presumably he’s the one paying money, but – Will Smith, a _Scientologist?_ I cried a little. He seemed like such a straight-up, regular guy, talented, and sincere. I know it’s a little controversial whether he actually _is_ one, or just strongly approves of it…but either way - ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/42 "2009-03-14T07:13:06Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > I was kind of disappointed when Harlan Ellison did those Geo ads back in the 80’s. Harlan Ellison and Geo are both so non-mainstream that the pairing almost seems perversely appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/43 "2009-03-14T10:47:30Z")
> [@tumbleddown](#): > > Ron Silver, post 9/11, became infected with a near pathological level of fear/loathing of what he still refers to as Islamofascist terrorists. While this made some sense in those early days, listening to him a month ago, it’s as if the intervening years never occurred, and the realization that said terrorists are not exactly as powerful as we feared that they might be (and that our worldwide intelligence and law enforcement are perhaps more powerful than we knew they could be) never happened. > > I listened to his show for several days and thought it was refreshing, he seemed to be an honest independent with equal criticism of the indulgences of both Democrat and Republican political maneuvering, if with a bit more Obama-disdain than I felt reasonable when the man had been in office less than a month. But when he started talking about terrorism and got really very vehement about it, I honestly felt a strong discomfort and eventually had to turn to another program because it was painful to hear the level of rancor he was expressing. It was easily comparable to Rush or Michael Reagan back in say, February of 2002. I am, quite frankly, uninterested in your political views or your views of Ron Silver’s views. The point was, people CHANGE their political views without “selling out.” ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/44 "2009-03-14T11:46:43Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Dennis Leary trying to sell Ford…man what happened to that guy? Oops. This is my fault. I told Leary a made-up story, and let him believe it, about how Bill Hicks booked a Ford advertisement but didn’t get a chance to shoot it before he died. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/45 "2009-03-14T12:52:51Z")
> [@DarrenS](#): > > Not quite a sell out, since presumably he’s the one paying money, but – Will Smith, a _Scientologist?_ I cried a little. He seemed like such a straight-up, regular guy, talented, and sincere. I know it’s a little controversial whether he actually _is_ one, or just strongly approves of it..but either way - ☹ Cite? Honestly, this is the first I’ve heard of it. I know he hangs out with some, but I have many friends whose religious beliefs I don’t share. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/46 "2009-03-14T13:04:24Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > I truly hope this won’t be seen as threadshitting because I don’t mean it that way, but… > > How can a celebrity “sellout”? They’re entertainers who get paid to entertain. How does doing a voice-over for a commercial impact that? It’s not like Degas was going to paint lilies, but decided to change them to mums because the Florist’s Association thought that would go better for Mother’s Day. For that matter, how much “art” was created as a commissioned or directed piece? How is that different? I couldn’t have written this post better. It’s just what I wanted to say. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/47 "2009-03-14T13:22:46Z")
> [@DarrenS](#): > > Not quite a sell out, since presumably he’s the one paying money, but – Will Smith, a _Scientologist?_ I’m sure it will make you feel better to know that he’s not a Scientologist. He’s friendly with Tom Cruise, but has specifically said on many occasions he’s not into Scientology. ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/48 "2009-03-14T14:58:37Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Cite? > > Honestly, this is the first I’ve heard of it. I know he hangs out with some, but I have many friends whose religious beliefs I don’t share. I first heard about this on the Skeptic’s Guide podcast, then went to [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_smith) to see if they agreed. Even if he isn’t personally a scientologist, which is debatable, he’s certainly thrown enough money their way to disappoint me and consider him a sell-out. How could the Fresh Prince do that?! I too have friend’s with differing religious beliefs, but Scientology? Nooo. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/49 "2009-03-14T18:14:32Z")
> [@tim314](#): > > Who decides which music is “dumbed down”? No clue, as I’ve never called anyone a sellout in my life. I’m just saying that I understand where Liz Phair fans are coming from. From their perspective, they lost the quality product they enjoyed for many years when her music changed. It may be unfair of them to call her a sellout, but I understand their perspective. People who get upset about music or people in advertisements just baffle me. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/50 "2009-03-14T18:21:40Z")
> [@DarrenS](#): > > Even if he isn’t personally a scientologist, which is debatable, he’s certainly thrown enough money their way to disappoint me and consider him a sell-out. So, we’re basically just making up new definitions of the term “sell-out”? It just means “shit we don’t particularly like” now? Cool. My dog totally sold out this morning all over the carpet. ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/51 "2009-03-14T18:56:03Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > So, we’re basically just making up new definitions of the term “sell-out”? It just means “shit we don’t particularly like” now? Cool. > > My dog totally sold out this morning all over the carpet. Yes, that’s _exactly_ what I meant. :rolleyes: Can we get back to the original purpose of the thread now? ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/52 "2009-03-14T19:05:49Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Not to mention getting paid millions by Microsoft for _Start Me Up_ ;). After R.E.M. turned down Microsoft’s first choice: _It’s the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine.)_ Michael Stipe explained at the time that he used Microsoft software and liked it, but he didn’t feel comfortable associating the song with a commercial product. I guess that’s a good example of not “selling out” considering how much money was on the table. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/53 "2009-03-14T19:08:22Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > No clue, as I’ve never called anyone a sellout in my life. I’m just saying that I understand where Liz Phair fans are coming from. From their perspective, they lost the quality product they enjoyed for many years when her music changed. It may be unfair of them to call her a sellout, but I understand their perspective. People who get upset about music or people in advertisements just baffle me. Except those people are idiots because… 1. Liz Phair made the album she wanted to make in light of her perspective on life at the time (she had just had a baby). 2. She didn’t make it that way to be “commercial”, it was an artistic choice. 3. The album is just great. You’d be hard pressed to find a better pop rock CD than “Liz Phair”. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/54 "2009-03-14T19:14:55Z")
> [@Moonchild](#): > > Dennis Miller becoming a mouthpiece for the Right. That’s the most egregious example I can think of. > > Unless he always believed what he says now and was throwing b.s. before. But I don’t think so. I remember him taking a chainsaw to bits of the Middow East on the World Map background of his Weekend Update set. 9/11 affected him like Gamma rays did Bill Bixby. And no, Mr. Miller. We don’t like you when you’re angry. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/55 "2009-03-14T19:26:50Z")
[David Hasselhoff for Wendy’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH3JAp7vMuo). Total sellout! ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/56 "2009-03-14T20:24:45Z")
> [@DarrenS](#): > > Yes, that’s _exactly_ what I meant. :rolleyes: > > Can we get back to the original purpose of the thread now? Congrats, that was pretty much my entire point. What in the world does Will Smith’s involvement with Scientology have to do with being a sellout? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/57 "2009-03-14T20:25:53Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Except those people are idiots because… > > 1. Liz Phair made the album she wanted to make in light of her perspective on life at the time (she had just had a baby). > 2. She didn’t make it that way to be “commercial”, it was an artistic choice. > 3. The album is just great. You’d be hard pressed to find a better pop rock CD than “Liz Phair”. Don’t really care about Liz Phair or her fans, to be honest. ETA: Not saying that to be an ass, I just don’t want their opinions projected onto me. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/58 "2009-03-14T20:30:12Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Don’t really care about Liz Phair or her fans, to be honest. Who cares if you do? I was pointing that calling Liz Phair a “sellout” when she did exactly what she set out to do with her album “Liz Phair” is an idiotic thing to do. ETA: So there’s no perspective to be had. The people who do this are wrong, plain and simple. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/59 "2009-03-14T20:31:34Z")
> [@DarrenS](#): > > he’s certainly thrown enough money their way to disappoint me and consider him a sell-out. Huh. How can “throwing money someones way” be “selling out”. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344/60 "2009-03-14T20:51:24Z")
Rhythm’s definition: Believing an artist would have refused a commercial for a product back in their heyday/climb to fame (whether to keep the fan base happy, personal choice, whatever), but are now taking advantage of commercial opportunities. Not perfect, sure, but there it is. There is some commercial out there where some blond pop star (beats me who, but the name was familiar) is in a Target(?) ad. The whole point of it is that it’s a “making of my new music video ad” type thing. I don’t think you can get more corporate than that. Not that I had much respect for her in the first place, but there’s something about such strong ties to marketing machinery that is quite off-putting. If I think a band member, sitting on my couch and seeing the ad would feel remotely similar, then years later is doing the same thing: sellout. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-most-disappointing-celebrity-sellouts/489344.md?page=4)