Sure there is worst than this, there are entertainers who perform for tyrants and dictators in foreign countries, but this is as close as you can go to the same thing while staying in the US. On Friday, Pharrell Williams as well as Harry Connick Jr., Robin Thicke, Sarah McLachlan, and Aloe Blacc, performed at Walmart annual shareholders gathering in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I had no idea such a thing existed, but the giant retailer has its own festival hold in a 14,000 seat arena.
According to MSNBC, people were first treated with a video of Walmart employees performing Pharrell’s song ‘Happy’ — quite ironic when we know the working condition of these people — then, after a few other absurdities such as power point presentations on the company’s plans for the future, Pharrell took the stage while saying:
‘Put your hands together for Wal-Mart, guys, for making the world a happier place.’
This guy is either totally stupid or out of touch with reality, or probably both. Stupid because it is impossible to ignore what a horrible company Walmart is, is he delusional? Walmart workers are on strike in major cities because of low wages and poor treatment, the company has even been charged with labor violations (and this is not the first time it happens) but Walmart makes the world a happier place? Strikers are calling on the company to offer a minimum annual salary of $25,000 a year – can you believe that these people don’t even earn this? – whereas the company’s former CEO makes in one year what an employee would make in 785 years! Some of Walmart employees are even on food stamps or rely on food banks, and this is so ridiculous when we know that the owners, the Waltons, are billionaires and among the richest people in the world! ‘The Walton family controls a fortune equal to the wealth of the bottom 42 percent of Americans combined.’
It’s impossible to ignore Walmart’s shameful labor practices and inadequate health coverage for its employees, and Pharrell doesn’t even see the irony to perform his ‘Happy’ anthem for people on food stamps? First of all, this song has to stop, or we’ll have soon a collective overdose, plus Pharrell should sometimes remove his hat to show us his empty head. He and the other performers should be ashamed of themselves. What about meeting with Walmart strikers to explain their presence and giving away the money they were paid to perform?
Vomit a little bit while listening to Pharrell praising Walmart:
