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Issues in Reverse Morals Clauses In Talent Influencer Contracts With Product Brands

By Chris O'Malley
November 01, 2024

The next company general counsel to slide a morality clause across the desk for a celebrity or web influencer to sign shouldn't be surprised if that talent also whips out a morals clause, one to cancel the contract if the company's brand acts immorally.

Yes, in this era of corporate scandal and corruption, so-called reverse morals clauses, also known as reciprocal or bilateral morals clauses, are popping up even among celebrities and web influencers. Rising stars of social media are particularly vulnerable to having their reputations dashed in the event of corporate malfeasance.

And no doubt reverse morals clauses are perversely satisfying for talent feeling "owned" by a brand and forced to parse every word they speak to not say anything offensive — a virtual impossibility in this day and age.

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