The Daily Think

CBS, your parents tv station and media organization, with 60 Minutes, Murder She Wrote, Two and a Half Men, Oprah’s best friend Gayle King, and 30 seasons of NCIS some place recently aired the Grammy Awards show and raised some controversy in doing so. Pfizer, the sweet little company that profited on the pandemic recently contributed to sponsorship with an almost comically ill-timed mention as Sam Smith and Petra finished their performance of “Unholy.”

Look, sponsor what you want and sign off on endorsing the artist you choose, but there will be consequences. One of them is that you will be criticized for sponsorship of the Grammy Awards due to a number of controversial elements in the event, including allegations of satanism and a lack of attention to Spanish-speaking viewers. These criticisms have raised important questions about the role of corporate sponsors in shaping the content and message of cultural events, as well as the responsibility of media corporations to provide inclusivity and accessibility for all viewers.

Pfizer, a global pharmaceutical company, is known for its research and development of innovative medicines and treatments. However, the company has faced significant criticism for its sponsorship of the Grammy Awards, which was filled with references to drugs, sex, and violence. In addition, some viewers and media outlets took issue with the content of the event, which they believe glorified satanism and other forms of anti-religious and anti-cultural behavior. This runs counter to the values that Pfizer is supposed to represent, and has led to calls for greater accountability and transparency from the company.

On the other hand, CBS, a major media corporation, has also been criticized for its role in sponsoring the Grammy Awards. While the company has a history of supporting cultural events and initiatives, many have argued that CBS failed to adequately vet the content of the event, and that its sponsorship was a mistake. In addition, CBS has been criticized for ignoring Spanish-speaking viewers, as the closed captions for the event were only available in English, which left a significant portion of the audience without access to critical information.

This controversy highlights the need for greater inclusivity and accessibility in media and cultural events. Companies like Pfizer and CBS have a responsibility to ensure that the events and initiatives they support align with their values and the expectations of their audiences. This includes paying attention to the needs of Spanish-speaking viewers and making sure that closed captions are available in multiple languages. By ignoring this important aspect of accessibility, CBS is excluding a significant portion of its audience and failing to provide an inclusive experience for all viewers.

So whether the criticism is unfair or not is not the issue, but Pfizer and CBS sponsorship of the Grammy Awards highlights the need for greater accountability and transparency from corporate sponsors and media corporations. Companies have a responsibility to ensure that the events and initiatives they support align with their values and the expectations of their audiences, and to provide inclusivity and accessibility for all viewers. By ignoring these important considerations, companies risk damaging their reputation and alienating their audiences, which can have long-term consequences for their success and credibility.