Pitbull was paid $1 million by tourism marketers in Florida for his “Sexy Beaches” music video, and the issue is blowing up in the Florida legislature. The music video was shot on Miami Beach, and it was rumored that the official tourism marketing company for the state, Visit Florida, had paid for the Miami-born rapper to make the music video.
According to The Miami Herald, House Speaker Richard Corcoran has filed a suit against the rapper’s production company, PDR Productions Inc., in order to obtain details of the agreement with Visit Florida. Reportedly the money that they paid Pitbull for the music video was lifted from taxpayers’ pockets.
Pitbull posted his contract to Twitter today in response to the suit, although there was some resistance from his legal team.
“It’s been an honor to represent Miami and the Sunshine State.” He wrote on Twitter. “I’ve taken Miami and Florida worldwide - WAY before any contract, and will do so way after. I love my home state. When asked to take on a New Year’s show, I insisted it be live from Florida. #LOVEFL since birth…..and till I die. Dale!”
*FULL DISCLOSURE - FLORIDA* https://t.co/nW5hD9E8ew pic.twitter.com/RrCLMuSVwq
— Pitbull (@pitbull) December 15, 2016
The contract posted to Twitter says that the music video was to feature beach locales and that Visit Florida would be allowed to use it in “any of their digital and social marketing channels.” Other obligations included using the hashtag “#LoveFL” whenever the video was shown during concerts, as well as heavy promotions for his New Year’s Eve celebrations in 2015. He was also required to do a series of “sweepstakes, contests and promotions.”
All reports say that the artist made $1 million from the deal, and in it agreed to use the “Sexy Beaches” clip. The clip had all of the respective locales and hashtags included for $250,000.
