Church-backed company mulls lawsuit after beer used in Porn Movie
29/12/2010
Agence France-Presse
NICOSIA — A church-backed beverage company from Cyprus is contemplating legal action after one of its beer products appeared in an American pornography film.
Company executives of KEO beer were stunned on Tuesday to learn that their popular beverage was featured in the film.
The Orthodox Church of Cyprus owns 20% of the company that produces the highly popular beer.
KEO commercial director Elias Sozou told AFP the board of directors would meet first thing on Wednesday morning to discuss the revelation.
“I have not spoken to our church representatives yet but the board will meet tomorrow to see if there are any legal means to have these scenes, showing our product, removed.
“Although I am not an expert on legal matters, I am aware that there is a different legal framework for outside the EU when it comes to showing brand products on television or in films. From what we have seen so far, it appears that this video may have been shot inside a Greek tavern in New York.”
The graphic scenes reveal a man and a woman in a tavern briefly discuss the beer and its “Greek” origin before having intercourse. One scene shows the actress pouring the beer into her co-star’s mouth from a bottle clasped in her cleavage.
“We are always searching for ways to promote our products and Cyprus throughout the world, but this is certainly not a path we would have chosen,” said Sozou.
“We were disappointed to discover that our beer was promoted in this pornographic film.”
KEO — the Greek abbreviation for Cyprus Wine Company — is the largest and most popular beverage company in Cyprus, with a history dating back to 1927.
Apart from its popular beer and wine beverages, the KEO group has also successfully ventured into spirits, liqueurs, mineral water, juices and canned foods.
It is considered to be one of the largest industrial employers in the country.
Agence France-Presse
