When Chanel No. 5’s new women’s perfume campaign launched earlier this month it was received mostly with bewilderment. Primarily, because the ad’s spokesman was just that—a man—and none other than a scruffy Brad Pitt, hired to peddle a fragrance for her. The ad, serious, bizarre, and arty-to-a-fault, is also so vague: We need the version for Dummies to understand its meaning.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGs4CjeJiJQ
If you can’t get through the spot with a straight face, you’re not alone. Everyone from Conan O’Brian, to Saturday Night Live have spoofed the campaign, which just might be a little too abstract for it’s own good.
But Brad Pitt is apparently the one having the last laugh, having earned $7 million for the spot. Yesterday, he announced what he’ll do with a portion of it. According to The Globe and Mail, Pitt will donate $100,000 to support same sex marriage votes:
Brad Pitt has agreed to donate $100,000 to help the Human Rights Campaign raise money for its efforts to support same-sex marriage initiatives in several states. The nation’s largest gay rights group announced Wednesday that Mr. Pitt agreed to match contributions from the group’s members up to $100,000.
In an e-mail to members of the Human Rights Campaign, Mr. Pitt wrote that it’s “unbelievable” that people’s relationships will be put to a vote on Election Day. Same-sex marriage will be on the ballot in Maryland, Maine, Minnesota and Washington state. The Washington, D.C.-based Human Rights Campaign says it has spent $8-million to push for marriage equality for gays and lesbians over the past two years, including $5-million in the four ballot measures this year.
$100,000 is a fun number to think about. What causes would you give to if you had that luxury?
