Jacksonville, Florida (The Weekly Vice) -- Just weeks after the remains of missing toddler Caylee Anthony were found discarded in a laundry bag, her memory has already become monetized.
Showbiz Promotions, a Jacksonville Florida company created by Jaime Salcedo, has begun taking orders for it's new product, The Caylee Sunshine Doll.
Touted as a "tribute" to Caylee Anthony and promoted on a blog titled "Caylee Anthony Tribute Site", the doll enables you to be "inspired" by the murder victim's memory for just $29.99.
The 18" doll is being released with blond hair and blue eyes - in an effort to not be offensive to the Anthony family - however it's namesake and very purpose was built upon her persona and story.
Salcedo originally announced plans to donate a portion of the product's profits to charity, however it has more recently announced a pledge to donate 100% of the product's profits to charity. That charity, of course, has not yet been determined according to the company's blog.
When Salcedo was asked whether it's appropriate for his company to profit on Caylee's death, he replied that he is anticipating critics. He added that this will be the first product his promotions company will sell that is inspired by the victim of a crime.
So for those of you who want to inspire your little angels with the memory of a murdered child, you now have your chance. (Duct tape, laundry bag and heart sticker sold separately).
The Weekly Vice Opinion:
We've been as fair as possible in the article above, laying out the bullet point details of the product and the blather behind it. Also included are links to the site, so you can read the company's explanation for releasing a product like this for yourself.
Now I'm going to offer my two cents on this product.
In my humble opinion, this product is a twisted, morbid and disgusting tribute to how far greed can really go.
Although the company states 100% of it's profits will be donated to charity, we'd beg to have a look at what his balance sheets define as profit.
Profit is the revenue that's realized after costs and expenses have been paid. Employees and owners are expenses, which pretty much means the owner can and likely WILL profit off of the murder of this girl, despite what the advertising jargon says.
Even if he denies himself a paycheck, there are endless ways to funnel money back into the company, so that those funds are tapped from other revenue streams.
We were fortunate enough to catch Salcedo's original intention of "maybe" donating up to $3 per doll to charity (a spoon full of sugar to make the greed go down). He's reworked the formula to avoid the critics....... but we know the intent.
You claim to care about exploited children Salcedo? Then you can get a start by ceasing the exploitation of THIS child....... You may fool the masses, but you aren't going to fool us.
You cannot sell a rotten apple in a smiley face wrapper and expect it not to stink.
Danny Vice
The Weekly Vice
http://www.theweeklyvice.com
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14 comments:
I am appalled, sad, angry and fighting mad all at once. Someone should pound this idiot's balls with an iron mallet for even thinking of a sick idea like this.
And are those pictures of his own daughter promoting this crap? I'd be curious to know.
yes i must say that is fucking sick!
Does anyone else think the song that dolls sings sounds kinda eerie.
This is just plain nutty
This is the most disgusting thing I ever heard and the company who created this atrocity should be forciby shut down!!! I cannot fathom why someone (besides casey, cuz shes a sadistic b****) would want to cash in only a beautiful babies death... I hope the company is ashamed of themselves and may they go bankrupt!!
I would rather the man sell pornography than rape a girl's memory like this. No wonder the anthony's are literally going to the loony farm. I can't say I blame them. A society that lets this sort of thing fly has serious issues.
What a sick world.
Fortunately, the company has decided to suspend the production of this doll.
I just read that... Here is an update from the company's blog.
from the site:
It was our intention to begin the sale of the Sunshine Caylee Doll at 12:00pm January 27, 2009. As we mentioned to the media in our press release it was very important that we allow the press to present our idea to the public first, in an effort to measure the reaction to our fund raising efforts. As the story developed we also announced that we would be donating 100% of the profits to charity. However, after reviewing the response to our media introduction of the Sunshine Caylee Doll and listening to the advice of the general public. We feel that is it best to suspend the launch of The Sunshine Caylee Doll.
While we still feel it is important to raise awareness and raise money to help stop this type of crime from being committed. We feel we can be more effective using more traditional methods.
We would like to that everyone who made comments or called us to express their opinion.
Sincerely,
Jaime Salcedo
President
Showbiz Promotions
There's a reason why the company has announced to "suspend" sales instead of "discontinuing" sales.
He's still playing games, I'd say.
this makes me sick. suspended or not, that site and everything associated with this doll should come down. Isn't it illegal to use someone's identity like this without their consent?
"You cannot sell a rotten apple in a smiley face wrapper and expect it not to stink."
Well said.
it amazes me what people would sell these days and expect not outrage...withever its the moron who sold "drunken negro" cookies in New York to "honor" Obama and now this.
Mr. Vice, I read your comments over at Steve Huff's site and I must say you are right on with your comments and posts. Very well said.
Ty, Denise. I was happy to see several well known blogs take on this issue. The company did say it wanted feedback. Well now it has some.
I'll be interested to see what they do with it.
I know there are vile people out there doing vile things in the name of profit, but this really takes the cake. Especially since he's claiming to do it as a charity?
If someone wants to donate to a charity, there are a million of them out there already.
There are real charities with real volunteers who work endlessly to help people. Charities who have the good sense NOT to exploit someone in the process.
Mr. Seduco, you are a vile, sick, uncaring man to go ahead with this travesty despite thousands of people begging you not to stop.
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