CROCODILE TEARS
George Clooney 'saddened' by child labor claims against Nespresso: 'Work will be done'
HE FAILED TO DO HIS DUE DILIGENCE BEFORE INVESTING OR BECOMING THE SPOKESMAN
George Clooney says he's "surprised and saddened" to hear allegations of child labor raised against coffee giant Nespresso, where he serves as a brand ambassador.
© JP Yim, Getty Images for Hulu George Clooney speaks onstage during Hulu's "Catch-22" special screening on May 01, 2019 in New York City.
The child labor claims surfaced following an investigation for the U.K. documentary series "Dispatches" after journalist Anthony Barnett was granted access to farms linked to Nespresso and Starbucks in Guatemala, the 10th largest coffee producing country in the world.
"Honestly I was surprised and saddened to see this story," Clooney said in a statement to USA TODAY. "Clearly this board and this company still have work to do. And that work will be done."
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Clooney has served on Nespresso's Sustainability Advisory Board for seven years in hopes of improving the life of farmers. And he's qualified for the job: He knows the "complex issues regarding farming and child labor" from firsthand experience of growing up "working on a tobacco farm from the time I was 12."
Despite the shocking claims, the Oscar winner, 58, acknowledged the success the board has had helping farmers create more profitable, sustainable and safe farms.
"I’m enormously proud of the success of their efforts," he wrote. "They’ve risked their lives trying to rebuild farms in South Sudan and spent a year on the ground helping farmers restore their farms in Puerto Rico after the hurricane. The simple truth is that this program is overwhelmingly positive for coffee farmers around the world."
Nespresso CEO Guillaume Le Cunff announced an investigation into the "unacceptable" child labor claims, adding that the coffee company has "zero tolerance of child labour."
"Where there are claims that our high standards are not met, we act immediately," Le Cunff said in a statement to USA TODAY. "We’ve launched a thorough investigation to find out which farms were filmed and whether they supply Nespresso. We will not resume purchases of coffee from farms in this area until the investigation is closed."
He continued: "We will continue to do all we can to stamp child labour out. It has no place in our supply chain.”
Clooney encouraged Barnett, the Channel 4 News reporter, to continue his investigation to provide a "check and balance of good corporate responsibility."
"I would hope that this reporter will continue to investigate these conditions and report accurately if they do not improve," Clooney added.
The "Dispatches" episode, titled "Starbucks & Nespresso: The Truth About Your Coffee," will air Monday evening in the U.K.Starbucks didn't immediately return USA TODAY's request for comment.
The child labor claims surfaced following an investigation for the U.K. documentary series "Dispatches" after journalist Anthony Barnett was granted access to farms linked to Nespresso and Starbucks in Guatemala, the 10th largest coffee producing country in the world.
"Honestly I was surprised and saddened to see this story," Clooney said in a statement to USA TODAY. "Clearly this board and this company still have work to do. And that work will be done."
Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.
Clooney has served on Nespresso's Sustainability Advisory Board for seven years in hopes of improving the life of farmers. And he's qualified for the job: He knows the "complex issues regarding farming and child labor" from firsthand experience of growing up "working on a tobacco farm from the time I was 12."
Despite the shocking claims, the Oscar winner, 58, acknowledged the success the board has had helping farmers create more profitable, sustainable and safe farms.
"I’m enormously proud of the success of their efforts," he wrote. "They’ve risked their lives trying to rebuild farms in South Sudan and spent a year on the ground helping farmers restore their farms in Puerto Rico after the hurricane. The simple truth is that this program is overwhelmingly positive for coffee farmers around the world."
Nespresso CEO Guillaume Le Cunff announced an investigation into the "unacceptable" child labor claims, adding that the coffee company has "zero tolerance of child labour."
"Where there are claims that our high standards are not met, we act immediately," Le Cunff said in a statement to USA TODAY. "We’ve launched a thorough investigation to find out which farms were filmed and whether they supply Nespresso. We will not resume purchases of coffee from farms in this area until the investigation is closed."
He continued: "We will continue to do all we can to stamp child labour out. It has no place in our supply chain.”
Clooney encouraged Barnett, the Channel 4 News reporter, to continue his investigation to provide a "check and balance of good corporate responsibility."
"I would hope that this reporter will continue to investigate these conditions and report accurately if they do not improve," Clooney added.
The "Dispatches" episode, titled "Starbucks & Nespresso: The Truth About Your Coffee," will air Monday evening in the U.K.Starbucks didn't immediately return USA TODAY's request for comment.
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