Anyone else think it's dishonest

For your info:

In 1969, he founded the Jimmy Dean Sausage Company[SUP][1][/SUP] with his brother Don. The company did well in part because of Dean's own extemporized, humorous commercials.[SUP][11][/SUP]
The success of the company led to its acquisition in 1984 by Consolidated Foods, later renamed the Sara Lee Corporation. Dean remained involved as spokesman for the company, but the new corporate parent immediately began phasing him out of any management duties. In January 2004, Dean said that Sara Lee had dropped him as the spokesman for the sausage brand because he was too old.[SUP][12][/SUP] In March 2004, Dean revealed that he had sold all but one of his shares in Sara Lee stock.[SUP][13][/SUP] In 2018, several years after his death, the sausage company began re-airing some classic commercials featuring the voice of Dean introducing himself and praising the product.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Dean
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For your info: Again. Yeah, that's me the spoil sport. :(


In 1969, he founded the Jimmy Dean Sausage Company[SUP][1][/SUP] with his brother Don. The company did well in part because of Dean's own extemporized, humorous commercials.[SUP][11][/SUP]
The success of the company led to its acquisition in 1984 by Consolidated Foods, later renamed the Sara Lee Corporation. Dean remained involved as spokesman for the company, but the new corporate parent immediately began phasing him out of any management duties. In January 2004, Dean said that Sara Lee had dropped him as the spokesman for the sausage brand because he was too old.[SUP][12][/SUP] In March 2004, Dean revealed that he had sold all but one of his shares in Sara Lee stock.[SUP][13][/SUP] In 2018, several years after his death, the sausage company began re-airing some classic commercials featuring the voice of Dean introducing himself and praising the product.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Dean
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Tommy said:
I'm sorry, Olivia. I'm not getting it. What is your point?
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I'm confused that I have to explain this. The point is that Dean's name and previous commercials were sold before his death. There is no way of knowing that he or his family would have approved of using his voice after his death in TV commercials. In fact, the new company dissed him and thought he was too old to have management control of the company and to be their spokesman. I haven't seen anything that proves that his family has any control over any of it and if they approve of it. Apparently it is legal but is it right?And that is the question and opinion. The opinion here seems to be that the man himself approves it, but where is the evidence of that? Even if approved by family (who's rights are sold and what kind of revenue are they getting out of it, if any) to my opinion it is tacky and wrong. And that is my point.
 
Tommy said:
Given the very nature of the advertising profession - to convince people to buy a product using any means available - it seems perfectly normal to me. Do you recall that ad showing a drop of milk falling into a glass of milk and producing a perfect crown-shaped splash? That was done using Elmer's white glue. Is that dishonest?
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No Tommy, the drop of glue is not dishonest at all. Nor is the shaving foam used in commercials on top of pumpkin pie. To me a person's voice is very personal and different than a drop of glue or whatever.
 
Ruth n Jersey said:
I was a bit shocked when I first heard his voice. My thought was why don't they just let him lie in peace. Then I thought maybe he had it written somewhere to use his name and voice to keep the company going.Although like others have mentioned I don't think many know who Jimmy Dean was.
What really freaked me out was when some singers made a video singing with their dead relatives. I think Nat King Coles daughter did it as well as Hank Williams JR. and I think Elvis and his daughter.
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Ruth, I like the idea of singing with dead relatives. My mom made a record when she was in high school of her singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow and also singing a song she wrote. Some evil pig of person stole it and I know who it was but couldn't prove it. Anyway, I don't sing but my daughter and her son do and my daughter was very close to my mom. We would love to make a record with my daughter and grandson singing along with my mom. But we can't because the record was stolen back in the late 80s right after my mom died.
 
Keesha said:
I’m answering the OP’s question, “Do you think it’s dishonest?”
No! :grin:
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I don't think it is dishonest, either. My assumption is that he wouldn't mind touting his own products from the grave since he touted them in life, and somewhere along the line he must have sold somebody the rights/copyright to do this. Otherwise, his family/company would be screaming bloody murder in the courts.

Who cares, anyway? We see and hear dead people talking/dancing/singing/whatever else on TV all the time and there's no notation that they are dead.
 
Olivia said:
I'm confused that I have to explain this. The point is that Dean's name and previous commercials were sold before his death. There is no way of knowing that he or his family would have approved of using his voice after his death in TV commercials. In fact, the new company dissed him and thought he was too old to have management control of the company and to be their spokesman. I haven't seen anything that proves that his family has any control over any of it and if they approve of it. Apparently it is legal but is it right?And that is the question and opinion. The opinion here seems to be that the man himself approves it, but where is the evidence of that? Even if approved by family (who's rights are sold and what kind of revenue are they getting out of it, if any) to my opinion it is tacky and wrong. And that is my point.
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Thank you for your reply, Olivia. I believe I understand your position now. I guess it's just a matter of personal opinion.

I really liked Jimmy Dean. I would imagine he was quite pleased when he sold the sausage business for $80 million to Consolidated/Sara Lee in 1984. Most certainly, details of the rights and licensing included in the sale were clearly spelled out in the legal documentation at that time so nobody, including his descendants, should be surprised that the old commercials are being used. As for being phased out of his management and promotional roles with the company, that sounds pretty normal to me. Have you read anywhere that he was at all surprised or upset by this?

Jimmy always seemed to be (justifiably) proud of his success as an entertainer and entrepreneur. I have to think that old Jimmy would be rather pleased to know that he is once again on the air promoting "his" products. As for his family, he left estate valued at more than $50 million. I'm not sure what basis they might have to complain.

Just my opinion though.
 
I just noticed that commercial late last night, didn't even know for sure that he was dead before this thread. I don't know if it's dishonest, but it is a bit odd to me to have his image there and him speaking in the ad.
 
The Kentucky Colonel has been dead for so long and till he is presented in a sarcastic way by several actors. Who cares who is pushing a product? Do you care about the phony doctors (actors) selling drugs or a ball of mucous selling a decongestant. Last but not least Ronald McDonald brainwashing your kids?
 
I just dislike the idea of using a dead person to sell a product. He could be much better presented by having an announcer saying something like "Our founder, Jimmy Dean would ask that you try his products. He took great pride in only presenting the best!"
 
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