Jon Wurster, in-demand drummer (Superchunk, The Mountain Goats) and all-around funny dude (radio’s The Best Show), regularly posts photos sent to him of signs and ads on his social media accounts that include cringe-worthy puns in the names of products and businesses. Probably the best was a truck for a Welsh gardening company called Mick Cave and the Good Seeds. As far as we know, Nick Cave and his band The Bad Seeds haven’t launched any copyright suits, but RZA of Wu-Tang Clan is far less tolerant of such silliness. Alleging trademark infringement, the Hip Hop legend filed a lawsuit against Brooklyn dog-walking business Woof-Tang Clan. Perhaps RZA already had a dog-walking project in the works? Or maybe he’s sending the small-business world a message about the brief shelf life of one-muffled-chuckle gag branding.
WARM: Is Morrissey a Sexual Assaulter Sympathizer?
Former Smiths singer Morrissey long ago figured out the PR advantage of saying controversial and/or stupid things in the press. But the latest series of quotes making the rounds seems to have caused him more trouble than his usual animal rights, anti-Trump or anti-royalty quips. In an interview with a German magazine, the vocalist seemed to excuse sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey, later doubling down on his defense in U.K. paper The Times by saying the abuse was possibly only a “pathetic attempt at courtship.” After the backlash, Morrissey suggested his words were misrepresented; at a show in Chicago, he said that the Times interview would be the last he’d ever do with print media.
COLD: Banana Crimes
When celebrities in America or the U.K. do something unpopular, the likely worst outcome is tabloid and/or social media shaming. But in some countries, the repercussions can be far more severe. Just as news surfaced that an Indian politician offered a $1.5 million bounty for the beheading of a Bollywood star and director for their allegedly sacrilegious film, reports emerged that Egyptian Pop star Shyma was jailed for “inciting debauchery” and “corrupting public morals” after appearing in a music video in which she eats a banana and dances in her underwear. She was released after four days, but faces charges that could put her in prison for three years. So STFU, Morrissey.
