What Are Your Kids Doing With The Video Camera?

Brothers who worked at a New Jersey grocery store filmed a music video. Now, A&P files million dollar defamation lawsuit against their former employees.

According to Associated Press:

A&P claims the video by Mark and Matthew D’Avella motivated at least one ‘disgusted and distressed’ customer to boycott the supermarket because of the video’s ‘repulsive acts.’

The brothers - styling themselves as a group called Fresh Beets - hit each other in the crotch with beets at one point, and stand with bananas suggestively hanging out of their pants at another. They briefly appear with their pants at their ankles (wearing boxers). One pretends to urinate on some greens.

“This customer, understandably, was disgusted and distressed by the scenes depicted in the video,” the suit reads. “Also understandably, this customer informed A&P that she would not be shopping in its stores in the future owning to the repulsive acts depicted and performed by defendants in the rap video. Given the false and disparaging statements and depictions concerning A&P and its products within the rap video, it is likely that numerous other customers of A&P will have similar reactions.”

The brothers were fired Aug. 23 and the lawsuit was filed Aug. 24 in state Superior Court in Flemington.

One might argue that the there’s enough lack of common sense to go around.

• While the brothers didn’t identify the store in the video, they did some questionable acts.
• The supermarket chain is certainly blowing this out of proportion. The video might never have caught the attention of the national media had they not kept their corporate lawyers on a tighter leash.
• What about the father who still works as Produce Manager in the store? Will he face retribution from the store or hit a glass ceiling in terms of future career advancement at the store/chain?

Lesson learned. Keep an eye out for what your brood is doing.

-BD

Related Links:
The Fresh Beets blog

Associated Press “A&P Sues Brothers Over Vegetable Video”

Commentary and Lyrics at Perishable Pundit