When Bad Jokes Go Public
Here’s a sticky issue, straight from the “It-Seemed-Funny-At-The-Time” files. It seems that California-based CBS News producer Bruce Rheins and his wife, actress Dawn Westlake, last year filed a trademark application for the name “Jesus Juice” to be used on bottles of wine. The couple made the application in January 2004, two months after pop star Michael Jackson was charged with allegations of child molestation.
“Jesus Juice” was allegedly what Jackson called wine in attempts to coax children into drinking it, according to charges aired in the trial. Last month, the couple provided artwork for the trademark that (mockingly in my opinion) portrayed Jackson as a Christ-like figure in a crucifixion pose.
The story came to our attention yesterday from a posting on the Newsbusters blog, under the headline: “CBS Producer Peddles ‘Jesus Juice’ Wine Label.” It showed up today in the New York Daily News, courtesy of the “Rush and Molloy” gossip column. It’s also mentioned on the Smoking Gun Web site.
I spoke to Rheins about it and he called the whole effort “a very bad attempt at a spoof.” Rheins said he and his wife make their own wine and intended to produce a small number of “Jesus Juice” bottles to give to friends, some of whom covered the Jackson trial alongside of Rheins. He said there was never an intention to profit in any way from the effort.
“Jesus Juice” was allegedly what Jackson called wine in attempts to coax children into drinking it, according to charges aired in the trial. Last month, the couple provided artwork for the trademark that (mockingly in my opinion) portrayed Jackson as a Christ-like figure in a crucifixion pose.
The story came to our attention yesterday from a posting on the Newsbusters blog, under the headline: “CBS Producer Peddles ‘Jesus Juice’ Wine Label.” It showed up today in the New York Daily News, courtesy of the “Rush and Molloy” gossip column. It’s also mentioned on the Smoking Gun Web site.
I spoke to Rheins about it and he called the whole effort “a very bad attempt at a spoof.” Rheins said he and his wife make their own wine and intended to produce a small number of “Jesus Juice” bottles to give to friends, some of whom covered the Jackson trial alongside of Rheins. He said there was never an intention to profit in any way from the effort.
