Sir Richard Branson blasted for dressing as cleaner
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Sir Richard Branson blasted for dressing as cleaner
Branson blasted for dressing as cleaner
May 6, 2009 - 11:44PM
British billionaire businessman Richard Branson has incurred the wrath of trade union leaders by dressing up as a station cleaner in a TV commercial promoting his Virgin Trains network.
Branson, who also owns the Virgin Atlantic airline, appeared in the ad wearing an orange fluorescent jacket, his forearms covered in fake tattoos and some of his front teeth blacked out, as he drives a refuse cart through the main train station in Glasgow, Scotland.
Branson, 58, said the advert was to underline his appreciation of the workforce.
"I am so proud of all of our Virgin Trains people and if dressing up in disgustingly dirty clothes, having my teeth blacked out and getting covered in tattoos was what it took to provide it, I was delighted to oblige," he said.
But Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT train drivers union, accused the Virgin boss of displaying a "patronising" attitude.
"The blacked-out teeth and fake tattoos say a lot about the attitude of Virgin Trains to our members who work under enormous pressure to make the services tick," said Crow.
Branson was treating the hard-working rail employees, who had earned him a fortune in recent years, as "some sort of excuse for getting out the fancy dress box is patronising in the extreme," Crow added.
But a Virgin spokesman insisted that Branson was "well known for his sense of humour" and that his involvement in the company's new marketing campaign would support Virgin Trains and the 3,200 people the company employs.
May 6, 2009 - 11:44PM
British billionaire businessman Richard Branson has incurred the wrath of trade union leaders by dressing up as a station cleaner in a TV commercial promoting his Virgin Trains network.
Branson, who also owns the Virgin Atlantic airline, appeared in the ad wearing an orange fluorescent jacket, his forearms covered in fake tattoos and some of his front teeth blacked out, as he drives a refuse cart through the main train station in Glasgow, Scotland.
Branson, 58, said the advert was to underline his appreciation of the workforce.
"I am so proud of all of our Virgin Trains people and if dressing up in disgustingly dirty clothes, having my teeth blacked out and getting covered in tattoos was what it took to provide it, I was delighted to oblige," he said.
But Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT train drivers union, accused the Virgin boss of displaying a "patronising" attitude.
"The blacked-out teeth and fake tattoos say a lot about the attitude of Virgin Trains to our members who work under enormous pressure to make the services tick," said Crow.
Branson was treating the hard-working rail employees, who had earned him a fortune in recent years, as "some sort of excuse for getting out the fancy dress box is patronising in the extreme," Crow added.
But a Virgin spokesman insisted that Branson was "well known for his sense of humour" and that his involvement in the company's new marketing campaign would support Virgin Trains and the 3,200 people the company employs.
Richard B probably likes dressing up.. he dressed up as an aging taxi driver with a crook back to better get to know contestants on his version of the "Apprentice"
Unaware that their cabbie was the man himself, they took the bait with some of the contestants not helping him load bags into the taxi and generally sending him up.
Ironic that the contestant who eventually won the series exhibited the worst behavior toward the old cabbie.
He also dressed up in a bridal gown to promote his apparel company Virgin Brides and worn nothing but a body stocking and a cellphone when he was lowered by crane into Times Square to promote is phone company.
The world of business is a brighter happier place with MR B.
Mickjoebill
Unaware that their cabbie was the man himself, they took the bait with some of the contestants not helping him load bags into the taxi and generally sending him up.
Ironic that the contestant who eventually won the series exhibited the worst behavior toward the old cabbie.
He also dressed up in a bridal gown to promote his apparel company Virgin Brides and worn nothing but a body stocking and a cellphone when he was lowered by crane into Times Square to promote is phone company.
The world of business is a brighter happier place with MR B.
Mickjoebill
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Location: Australia
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oh dear, the reason they are so upset is that they (his critics) couldn't dress up as Sir Richard (heh heh heh has a ring to it) and act in a civilized, educated, and successful person that he is, its like looking in the mirror and not liking what you see, so blame someone else.
