Virgin Mobile involved in controversial charity event

Virgin Mobile aims to use the power of viral videos in order to raise money. It has garnered considerable controversy, though, as the campaign involves younsters performing stripteases. Unsurprisingly, many special interest groups are outraged at the notion. The idea is that clothing companies will donate articles to those in need based on how many times these videos are viewed. There is no nudity allowed, but that hasn’t allayed the criticism of groups like Streetworks.

“It was a shock to everybody,” said Trudee Able-Peterson, coordinator of outreach services at StreetWorks, a Twin Cities collaborative of outreach programs. “This is the message we send kids? That my granddaughter, who’s 17, should strip to provide clothes for other kids?”

I can appreciate the symbolism here, though apparently Able-Peterson cannot. While the criticism was inevitable, there can still be plenty of good to be taken from such a campaign. From Jayne Wallace, VP of Corporate Communications for Virgin Mobile USA:

Virgin Mobile, which said it had established “good taste” criteria to keep videos “fun but not salacious,” was more defiant. “(We) believe that promotion (of the site) will result in thousands of new clothes being provided for those in need,” spokeswoman Jayne Wallace said in a letter to the NN4Y, which urged members to support the campaign.

It’s an touchy subject, for sure. We should have a further resolution tomorrow.]]>