Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Crisis Averted: Jay-Z's Occupy Wall Street T-Shirts Back In Time For Holiday Shopping
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Nov 14, 2011
Modified Nov 14, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Nov 14, 2011
Modified Nov 14, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Last night, GlobalGrind scored an exclusive one-sentence email from Jay-Z in which the rapper denied bowing to the pressure to pull the "Occupy All Streets" T-shirts that Rocawear so shrewdly "borrowed" from the Occupy Wall Street movement. We couldn't find them at the time, but now they've resurfaced on the company's website. They're on back-order though, and won't ship until December 16, just in time for the season of unchecked consumerism. This holiday season, give the gift of hypocrisy!
Russell Simmons, the majority shareholder of GlobalGrind, tweeted that "there has never been a statement issued that said rockawear or jay z will keep profits from #occupywallstreet tee shirts." No, what Rocawear actually said was, "At this time we have not made an official commitment to monetarily support the movement." But an official announcement on a "spiritual commitment" is surely forthcoming, as soon as the company files its fourth quarter earnings statement.
GlobalGrind nobly urges us to stay "rockin' with our man Jay-Z. As long as he's still selling the shirts, we're definitely buying 'em and supporting the Occupy Wall Street movement!" And while you're at it, why not support cocaine by buying one of these lovely "Fish Scale" t-shirts. Don't worry, just like the "Occupy All Streets" t-shirts, none of the money actually goes to the drug trade, so you can stay rockin' with nose candy without actually supporting it.
Tagged
corporate shills
irony
jay-z
occupy all streets
PR
rocawear
Spin City
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Immanuel Wilkins is upholding NYC's jazz history. He's also dreaming up its future.
The saxophonist performs this week at the Village Vanguard.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Sep 29, 2026
Ever wish you could get paid to walk through a stranger’s house? ‘The Scout’ is for you.
A new film focuses on the strange career of a location scout in New York City.
By
Sonia Rao
Arts & Entertainment
Ever wish you could get paid to walk through a stranger’s house? ‘The Scout’ is for you.
A new film focuses on the strange career of a location scout in New York City.
By
Sonia Rao
There are 100s of places to visit during Open House New York. Here's 5 of our favorites.
By
Hannah Frishberg
A massive MTA archive ended up in a Virginia warehouse. A Brooklyn man brought it home.
By
Hannah Frishberg
How a Harry Styles pop-up in the East Village led to a nearby bookstore owner's arrest
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .