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Controversy over new Turkish Airlines spokesman Kobe Bryant
In order to promote the upcoming new Los Angeles-Istanbul flights, the new Turkish Airlines spokesman Kobe Bryant has prompted some protest in the Armenian American community. Turkey (as well as the United States) does not recognize the death of 1.5 million Armenians at the end of Turkey's Ottoman Empire as genocide. 700,000 Armenian Americans in California are hoping Bryant will use his stature to raise awareness and put pressure on the United States to recognize the deaths, threatening to boycott the basketball star and the L.A. Lakers if he doesn't back out of the deal.Should he continue with the deal, Bryant will make his own inaugural trip in 2011. "I've never been to Turkey," Bryant told CNBC. "But all the guys on the team in the league who have been keep saying it's one of the hottest places to go to." The LAX-IST flights will begin in March, four times a week. Turkish Airlines also has direct flights from New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.
Turkish Airlines' current brand embassador is actor Kevin Costner, though no protests are known against his films or for the work of Benicio del Toro, whose image can be seen all over Turkey in advertisements for Magnum ice cream.
[Photo via Flickr by Keith Allison]
Filed under: Asia, Europe, North America, Turkey, United States, Airlines, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Marcus Dec 17th 2010 2:27AM
I guess the Billion dollars Armenians have stolen from US Medicare was not enough.
OHH Really, I am not for Armenians whom stolen $1 billion dollars of our tax payers money from Medicare, and l certainly do not agree with Armenian Consul General in LA selling fake documents to Armenian criminals for $35.000 each ,who were rapists and murderers, to get a US Visa, and Wikileaks just revealed that Armenian Government was transferring weapons to Terrorist in Iraq and used to kill American soldier, and Armenia hosts Russian military basses in their soil, we should be protesting that instead, Kobe has right to advertise who ever he wants, it is Not Armenians to decide that
and Armenians had 30.000 man in Hitlers army
report that instead
BTDT Dec 17th 2010 11:33PM
"700,000 Armenian Americans in California " VS millions of dollars.
Wonder which one Koby will side with.
BK Dec 18th 2010 1:32AM
Marcus, if you think for one minute that you can make a asinine statement about Armenians stealing one billion dollars from Medicare without qualifying it, you are grossly mistaken. Do you want to hide behind that simple statement or do you want to defend it? If you're going to defend it then shoot your best shot. Frankly, and to inform the other readers, you are a phony and a liar. How do you like me now?
bmpek Dec 18th 2010 10:45AM
has kim k signed off on this??????
Christopher Hacke Dec 17th 2010 8:50PM
These arrogant, over paid participants in what was m,erly an exercise approach for the winter at a college a century ago, would act as spokes people for Adolph Eichman's train travel guide if paid enough. Kobe Bryant wouldn't know if Turkey is a country, a bad broadway show or should be roasted, basted or fried. Of course he could become the spokes person for the new book "A Guide to Getting Young Women to Show you Empty Hotel Rooms."
B Dec 17th 2010 9:28PM
"Armernians" (first sentence)
mhwyman7 Dec 17th 2010 9:45PM
Maybe he can can watch The Midnight Express on his way over there.
tont Dec 18th 2010 12:37AM
If the Armenians claim to be good Americans, then they will let America and it's people, like Kobe, damm well do what they want. It's in the constitution. Let them go back to Armenia where most likely they will be put in jail or shot. Sure, they have a right to free speech and whatever our constitution grants them. Yes Turkey brutalized the Armenians but don't force Americans to choose sides. Stand up like true Americans and let it be. Oh, by the way Armenians, clean up your vicious organized crime syndicate in Glendale and the Los Angeles area. You people are no saints you know.
SCOTT Dec 18th 2010 1:32AM
TIRED OF ARMENIAN AMERICANS AFRICAN AMERICANS MEXICAN AMERICANS . SEEMS EVERYTHING COMES IN FRONT OF AMERICANS IF WE ARE NOT AMERICANS FIRST THEN YOU ARE NOT AMERICANS . TIME WE GET RID OF THAT BEFORE WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSE TO BE
David S. Dec 18th 2010 5:23AM
So? This is business, and Kobe is making money. Any questions? I guess Kevin Costner and Benicio del Toro can do as they wish, but not Kobe. So much for American freedom.