It takes a special kind of adult entertainment company to keep winning the prize for our occasional Press Release of the Week feature--but there's no doubt that CockyBoys.com is exactly that kind of company. As you may recall, they scored a one-two punch in the competition back in March, but CockyBoys very well may have outdone themselves with today's epic missive in which they start out by taking noted houseplants talk show personalities Derek and Romaine to task for raking poor Jesse Santana over the coals during a recent interview and end with an impassioned call to boycott the behemoth that is Sirius Radio itself. We'll let you read the whole text after the jump, because we're still having a bit of trouble wrapping our mind around the whole brouhaha ourselves. (But hey, at least they included a rilly cute picture of Jesse in the email too.)
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NEWS RELEASE
May 14, 2008Popular Gay Adult Site Cockyboys.com takes on Media Consolidation
Files Formal Comment and Complaint With the FCC Stemming from Sirius Radio interview with star Jesse Santana
Today CockyBoys.com filed a formal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission against satellite media monopoly Sirius Radio. The complaint follows the May 8th appearance of CockyBoys.com web exclusive performer Jesse Santana on the Sirius Out Q channel hosted by show hosts Derek and Romaine.
In a purported attempt to "get to know" Jesse, the talk show hosts sprung questions on him regarding somewhat complicated current events ranging from the Myanmar Cyclone, to the proposed Gas Tax Holiday and even the reasons Madonna faces challenges in her attempt to adopt a child from Africa.
Hosts Derek and Romaine apparently have a number of issues and disputes with Jason Sechrest, the publicist who scheduled the interview. Sechrest was retained by JetSet Productions, a DVD company for whom Jesse also performs. In an effort to discredit Sechrest, Derek and Romaine set out to demean and embarrass Jesse.
Cockyboys.com executive Kyle Majors said, "I doubt many politicians could answer these questions if sprung on them out of the blue. Jesse, caught by surprise, struggled with answering some of them which gave Derek and Romaine the fodder they were seeking. Although Derek and Romaine justify their conduct by claiming they were nice to Jesse, promoted his movie, and thought the questions were fair, anyone who actually hears the interview can tell that Derek and Romaine were setting out to get Jesse. From their condescending tone, to the line of questioning, to the snide comments made during and after the interview, it is very clear the talk show hosts set out to try to make a mockery of Jesse to settle their seeming 'high school' like grudge with Sechrest."
"Whatever the reasoning, the attack on Jesse was completely inappropriate and unprofessional. Jesse is perhaps the nicest and most professional performer in the business. He approaches the adult industry like a profession, and goes out of his way to treat people with respect and dignity," added Majors.
Cockyboys.com planned to offer a free one year membership to everybody over the age of 18 who could demonstrate they had cancelled their Sirius service.
"The problem", Majors explained, "is that the only alternative for a satellite radio consumer is XM Radio. If the two are allowed to merge, consumers have no alternative. Perhaps this seems like a non-issue when the companies offer so many channels. But what happens if you object to the management of the company? I don't want my dollars to go to a company that would employ Derek and Romaine."
"Thinking of the issue more broadly," Majors said, "imagine if News Corp acquired the combined satellite companies and every channel had a conservative bent, or Gay.com acquired the combined companies and everything was about gay issues. Americans have a constitutional right to freedom of expression, which includes a right to have those outlets free from monopolistic control."
What started as an unprofessional attack on a working performer's career for exploitative and vindictive gain, has morphed into a constitutional battle. CockyBoys.com is fighting the Goliath called Sirius Radio in DC as it attempts to eat its only real competitor XM Radio.
Cockyboys.com filed an initial complaint with the FCC today, and will be providing a more detailed complaint next week. In addition the company is examining a potential federal court action seeking to block the merger on constitutional grounds. We urge everyone from the National Association of Broadcasters to Jet Set Productions--and especially the great bloggers and fans of conviction and understanding that know Jesse was ambushed to reach out to the Federal Communications Commission. Contact FCC Chairman Kevin Martin directly by letter or email, and urge him to block the Sirius / XM merger so that Americans will have a say and have free air waves and satellite media.
Join the chorus of protest and contact:
Kevin J. Martin
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20455
[email protected]For more information, contact [email protected]
· CockyBoys (cockyboys.com)
· Derek & Romaine (derekandromaine.com)
· Jesse Santana (@ MySpace)