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Jay-Z's 'Occupy Wall Street' T-Shirt Won't Benefit Protestors

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Jay-Z

Jay-Z is releasing a new line of T-shirts in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement Friday via his Rocawear clothing label, but he doesn't plan to share any of the profits with the protesters.

The rapper was recently seen wearing one of the shirts, which tweaks the phrase "Occupy Wall Street" by crossing out the "W" and adding an "S" to make it read "Occupy All Streets." The shirt is currently on sale at the Rocawear official website, with a list price of $22.

 

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The protests, which started Sept. 17 in New York, have since spread to Los Angeles and other cities as demonstrators protest corporate greed and corruption.

The Business Insider noted the "irony" in that Jay-Z has no intention to distribute any of the proceeds to protestors.

A Rocawear spokesperson told the publication: "The 'Occupy All Streets' T-shirt was created in support of the 'Occupy Wall Street' movement. Rocawear strongly encourages all forms of constructive expression, whether it be artistic, political or social. 'Occupy All Streets' is our way of reminding people that there is change to be made everywhere, not just on Wall Street. At this time we have not made an official commitment to monetarily support the movement."

 

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But one of the movement's most high-profile supporters, music mogul Russell Simmons -- who has attended Occupy protests and has sent many tweets expressing his views on the matter -- touted the T-shirt on Twitter earlier this week.

"Love Jay-Z's t-shirt," he wrote, tweeting a link to a photo posted on his GlobalGrind website. "Glad i got mine today."

 

(Additional reporting by Jason Lipshutz, Billboard)

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