Bono Laments Apple’s Obsession With Itself

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U2 star and philanthropist Bono and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) design chief Sir Jony Ive appeared last weekend onstage for an interview at the Cannes Lions festival. The musician was honored with the LionHeart Award for his charity work with the (Product) Red to raise funds for the fight against AIDS. Ive and Bono talked about their successful history together in raising funds to fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Apple is ‘a religious cult’

However, Bono didn’t miss the opportunity to criticize Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) at the festival, while Ive sat on the stage at his side. The singer bemoaned the tech giant’s obsession with itself. He said that Apple’s behavior is “like a religious cult.” The U2 frontman was annoyed that Steve Jobs hated the parentheses around the word “Product.” Jobs was an early believer in the (Product) Red campaign, but he refused to display those parentheses in Apple stores.

The criticism that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is obsessed with itself is nothing new. In 2011, British neurologists discovered that the brain of an Apple fan is no different from that of a religious devotee. Moreover, Bono criticizes the Cupertino-based company for being “annoyingly quiet” about its efforts for the cause, reports AdWeek. To date, Apple Inc. has raised about $75 million for (Product) Red. All that money has gone toward AIDS programs in Africa.

Apple Bono

Apple has done a lot to support Bono’s efforts

 

The company has supported Bono’s efforts by launching many (Red)-branded products such as the iPhone and iPad cases and the iPods. The tech giant has released (Red)-branded iPod shuffles and nanos, iPhone bumpers, iPad smart covers, and iPhone 5S cases. Last year, Sir Jony Ive joined hands with designer Marc Newson to build several unique products that were auctioned by Sotheby’s. Proceeds from those auctions went directly to (Red).

While Bono criticized Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) at the Cannes Lions festival, he has praised the tech giant and Steve Jobs in the past.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares were down 0.12% to $90.72 in pre-market trading Tuesday.

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