Tom Cruise: Wal-Mart A ‘Role Model’ That ‘Improves Women’s Lives’
He said what? Actor Tom Cruise has become an unlikely PR man for megastore conglomerate Wal-Mart, calling the company a “role model” and applauding it for “improving women’s lives.” Let’s reserve judgment until we understand exactly what he’s saying here.
The actor raised a few eyebrows with a speech given at Wal-Mart’s shareholder meeting on Friday. “I’ve wanted to come here for quite some time, actually, because the culture you have here is like no other,” he said.
“I truly admire your company. [It’s] a role model for how business can address some of the biggest issues facing our world.”
The celeb-heavy event was also attended by Hugh Jackman and included performances by Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, and Jennifer Hudson.
But it was Cruise’s speech that got media publications and Twitter users swirling, with many seething over the company’s questionable pay practices and its refusal to guarantee safety for workers making garments in its various factories all over the world.
On that last note, many pointed out the recent Wal-Mart factory collapse in Bangladesh, which killed more than 1,100 people.
Another “glib” moment from Cruise: He praised Wal-Mart for “using its size and scale to improve women’s lives across the world.”
This caught the attention of the feminist publication Jezebel, where Jenna Sauers took issue with the event as a whole and the company’s neglect of the safety of its workers.
“Just so we’re clear: money spent hiring A-list celebrities to do a song-and-dance at the annual meeting? Appropriate use of shareholders’ funds.
“Money spent to bring your factories up to safety code so that 1300 people don’t die sewing your clothes on wages of $37/month? Inappropriate use of shareholders’ funds.”
Cruise was also the subject of several irate tweets following his Wal-Mart speech:
Tom Cruise says Wal Mart is a role model…..hmmm, that’s one role we won’t find him playing#canthandlethetruth
— Tony Costello (@tcump) June 12, 2013
more proof he’s a tool.Tom Cruise: Wal-Mart ‘a role model ‘ says megastore ‘improving women’s lives’ on-msn.com/18wJ7np via @msnmovies
— Brian Martelon (@bmartelon) June 12, 2013
Tom Cruise says Wal-Mart is “a role model.” …..Good one!
— KYL3 S1PPL3 ? (@Kylypso) June 12, 2013
What do you think of Tom Cruise’s Wal-Mart speech? Is the megastore really a “role model?” Sound off!
[Image via: Featureflash / Shutterstock]
