Jay-Z: Boycott "racist" Cristal Champagne

Somebody please explain to Jay-Z that rappers aren't a race and if you question whether you should forbid rappers from drinking Cristal, you're not being a racist (maybe a rapist?). More critically, attacking rap isn't attacking black people, despite the industry's best efforts to encourage that ludicrous point of view.


Jay-Z is calling for a rapper boycott of premium Champagne maker Cristal after an executive for the company implied discomfort with his firm's product being a status symbol for rappers and wondered "what can we do? We can't forbid people from buying it." Jay-Z has pulled the brand from his clubs, and is calling on rappers and their fans to stay away from the drink.

In a special summer issue of The Economist magazine, Frederic Rouzaud, managing director of Louis Roederer, said the company viewed the affection for his company's champagne from rappers and their fans with "curiosity and serenity."

Asked by the magazine if the association between Cristal and the "bling lifestyle" could be detrimental, Rouzaud replied:

"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."