Bono criticizes Apple for being 'annoyingly quiet' about raising $75M for fight against AIDS
U2 frontman Bono appeared onstage for an interview this weekend at the Cannes Lions festival with Apple designer Jony Ive, and while the two spoke of their successful history together in raising money for The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Bono did take the opportunity to criticize the company for downplaying its role.
The interview with Bono and Ive was summarized by AdWeek, who noted that the superstar singer used the platform to urge companies in attendance to aid his global nonprofit, (RED). Bono said that while Apple has raised more for his charity than anyone else, the company has consistently downplayed its involvement dating back to the start of the partnership involving late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
Bono went as far as to call Apple "annoyingly quiet," saying that the company doesn't do enough to tout the fact that it has raised $75 million for The Global Fund. The singer also showed off an iPad with a (RED) Smart Case, and criticized Apple for only promoting the charity on the inside of the cover, where it will never be seen when attached to an iPad.
"This is modesty run amok," Bono said in front of Ive. "This is the Apple way. They're like a religious cult."
For his part, Ive noted that Apple has partnered with (RED) since 2006, when its first (RED) product, an iPod nano, was released. The company's lead designer noted that Apple now sells "well over a half a dozen" items that contribute money to The Global Fund, and characterized the partnership with (RED) as "really, really special for us."
The (RED) charity revealed in April that Apple had contributed $70 million to the program to date. The iPhone maker has raised more than any other company for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
And while Bono was critical of Apple in the appearance, he has publicly praised the company and Jobs in the past. In 2011, Bono penned an editorial defending Jobs and his contributions to charity.
Last year, Ive and Bono teamed up with fellow industrial designer Mac Newson to design several one-of-a-kind products for a (RED) benefit auction. Items included solid rose gold Apple EarPods, a red Mac Pro, and a completely custom Leica Digital Rangefinder. The Mac Pro went for nearly $1 million, making it the most expensive desktop PC ever built.
The interview with Bono and Ive was summarized by AdWeek, who noted that the superstar singer used the platform to urge companies in attendance to aid his global nonprofit, (RED). Bono said that while Apple has raised more for his charity than anyone else, the company has consistently downplayed its involvement dating back to the start of the partnership involving late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
Bono went as far as to call Apple "annoyingly quiet," saying that the company doesn't do enough to tout the fact that it has raised $75 million for The Global Fund. The singer also showed off an iPad with a (RED) Smart Case, and criticized Apple for only promoting the charity on the inside of the cover, where it will never be seen when attached to an iPad.
"This is modesty run amok," Bono said in front of Ive. "This is the Apple way. They're like a religious cult."
For his part, Ive noted that Apple has partnered with (RED) since 2006, when its first (RED) product, an iPod nano, was released. The company's lead designer noted that Apple now sells "well over a half a dozen" items that contribute money to The Global Fund, and characterized the partnership with (RED) as "really, really special for us."
The (RED) charity revealed in April that Apple had contributed $70 million to the program to date. The iPhone maker has raised more than any other company for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
And while Bono was critical of Apple in the appearance, he has publicly praised the company and Jobs in the past. In 2011, Bono penned an editorial defending Jobs and his contributions to charity.
Last year, Ive and Bono teamed up with fellow industrial designer Mac Newson to design several one-of-a-kind products for a (RED) benefit auction. Items included solid rose gold Apple EarPods, a red Mac Pro, and a completely custom Leica Digital Rangefinder. The Mac Pro went for nearly $1 million, making it the most expensive desktop PC ever built.
Comments
In summary, the man is a twat.
Wow, talk about a thin skin, AI.
From the sound of it, he was far from 'criticizing' Apple. If anything, he seemed to be faintly praising the company for its modesty, saying that it was just sticking to its culture of secrecy.
I saw snippets of this on YouTube and Instagram and Bono wasn't that critical. Seems to me this is rumor sites trying to make something out of nothing.
I will never buy an Apple (Red) product or any other (Red) product. I don't like red colored computer devices, and fighting AIDS is not exactly high up on my list of priorities.
I do happen to own a red colored guitar though.
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Isn't that what mostly all media does with everything?
I guess Bono still hasn't found what he's looking for in a partner.
Bono, Apple moves in mysterious ways.
Apple is just One company.
Apple will continue its charitable work with or without you.
As another poster has noted, Bono demands that governments do more while using every trick he can to evade paying taxes on his huge fortune. The guy's a phony as a pink $1 bill.
I will never buy an Apple (Red) product or any other (Red) product. I don't like red colored computer devices, and fighting AIDS is not exactly high up on my list of priorities.
I do happen to own a red colored guitar though.
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Bono lost most of his influence after U2 stopped being popular in the UK and USA. Not to mention AIDS isn't high on the priority list when silly little things like cancer and heart disease research is under funded.
Bono had me until "religious cult". Apple doesn't need to brag about charity.
I guess Bono still hasn't found what he's looking for in a partner.
Bono, Apple moves in mysterious ways.
Apple is just One company.
Apple will continue its charitable work with or without you.
I see what you did there. Well done.
Bono lost most of his influence after U2 stopped being popular in the UK and USA. Not to mention AIDS isn't high on the priority list when silly little things like cancer and heart disease research is under funded.
I agree that there are many other causes which are more important than AIDS.
I'm not joking though, when I say that I wish that there was an effective charity that one could contribute to that killed people, instead of trying to save people. I would definitely open up my wallet for such a cause. I see commercials on tv, where they say that for less than the price of coffee a day, you can save a child. There should be charities that advertise with, for a $10 contribution, we will guarantee that one terrorist will be killed, like somebody from ISIS or AL Qaeda or those nutjob terrorists in Nigeria who kidnap schoolgirls, and we will even send you a picture of the dead terrorist after our forces has eliminated them. I would definitely contribute to such causes, if the charity were legit and legal. That would do a lot of good in the world, and it would save plenty of lives too. Direct action is what's needed to solve certain problems in the world.
Ever built or ever sold?
Not to mention AIDS isn't high on the priority list when silly little things like cancer and heart disease research is under funded.
About 12,000 people die of AIDS every year in the US. The US Government has mandated all new cars come with Stability Control. This will save 10,000-12,000 lives in crashes per year. Basically $100 per car of electronic pieces, consisting of a Wiimote and software in the anti-lock computer, are going to eliminate the effects of AIDS in the US. Not to mention the costs of providing $$$ HIV drugs that the rest of us have to shoulder.
I'm not sure I'd take too seriously the complaints of a man who, while being worth over $1bn, continually bangs on about the plight of the poor and needy, while he claims residency in The Netherlands, so that his tax bill is lower than it would be if he were in Ireland, neatly avoiding and of his taxes helping the poor and needy of Ireland.
Nothing's better than supporting African countries through blatant first-world consumerism...
I agree that there are many other causes which are more important than AIDS.
I'm not joking though, when I say that I wish that there was an effective charity that one could contribute to that killed people, instead of trying to save people. I would definitely open up my wallet for such a cause. I see commercials on tv, where they say that for less than the price of coffee a day, you can save a child. There should be charities that advertise with, for a $10 contribution, we will guarantee that one terrorist will be killed, like somebody from ISIS or AL Qaeda or those nutjob terrorists in Nigeria who kidnap schoolgirls, and we will even send you a picture of the dead terrorist after our forces has eliminated them. I would definitely contribute to such causes, if the charity were legit and legal. That would do a lot of good in the world, and it would save plenty of lives too. Direct action is what's needed to solve certain problems in the world.
There's already a pretty expensive and inefficient program in place that does 90% of this, and you're already donating, assuming you earn money in the US.
Wow, talk about a thin skin, AI.
From the sound of it, he was far from 'criticizing' Apple. If anything, he seemed to be faintly praising the company for its modesty, saying that it was just sticking to its culture of secrecy.
To be honest, one of the memes constantly trotted out by the iHater crowd is the alleged non-philanthropy of Steve Jobs and Apple. If you repeat a lie often enough people DO start to believe it. Yes, people are that stupid.
There's already a pretty expensive and inefficient program in place that does 90% of this, and you're already donating, assuming you earn money in the US.
Yes, I am a US taxpayer, and you're right that my money is already contributing to somewhat similar causes, though I do agree with you that it is expensive, inefficient, and I also feel that the whole thing is run by clowns, which is why I wish that there was an alternative and better method.
I'm not sure I'd take too seriously the complaints of a man who, while being worth over $1bn, continually bangs on about the plight of the poor and needy, while he claims residency in The Netherlands, so that his tax bill is lower than it would be if he were in Ireland, neatly avoiding and of his taxes helping the poor and needy of Ireland.
In summary, the man is a twat.
And then there's Apple using Ireland so it's tax bill is lower than it would be if it were in the U.S.
Bono criticizes Apple for being 'annoyingly quiet' about raising $75M for fight against AIDS
Except humility doesn’t brag about charity, Bozno.
There is an old quote which I heard many decades ago and goes something like: "One whose morality follows their self interest has no morality." Me thinks that something like that applies to charity.