Latest news with #TONE
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
"They're being hypocrites, they are lying": Duke Dennis responds to backlash over AMP's skincare brand launch
Image via:Instagram/dukedennis In the latest turn in AMP's explosive July, Twitch streamer & AMP co-founder Duke Dennis fires back at critics accusing the squad of hypocrisy amid launch of their personal care line, TONE, at Target stores across the US. AMP's Summer Stunt and the Rise of TONE This revolves around a dramatic week for AMP, the content group made up of Duke Dennis, Kai Cenat, Fanum, Agent00, Chrisnxtdoor, and ImDavisss. The team's 4th of July livestream, a segment of an ongoing 30-day subathon, descended into riot after a live stunt against their online rivals, the Clover Boys, escalated into a spectacle. What started as good natured competition turned sour over claims that Clover Boys had detonated fireworks and vandalized AMP's home in Atlanta as the crew was leaving. AMP's response attack? A surprise raid and what they playfully named a 'revenge vacation,' broadcast live to an enormous online audience. In all the buzz, AMP unassumingly debuted their much-awaited personal care line, TONE, in Target on 7th July. TONE features deodorant, body wash, cologne, lotion, lip balm and body mist, all designed and branded by AMP. Duke Dennis: 'They are lying' With AMP's rapid growth into the mainstream retail space, backlash arrived just as quickly. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Successful Way of Intraday Trading is "Market Profile" TradeWise Learn More Undo Critics panned the creators for panning out or selling out or being sell outs with their business move. In reply, Duke Dennis didn't hold back. "Bro, I've been seeing a lot of people mad at us that he got TONE in Target, bro. And it's like everybody is saying that, bro, is that they hypocrites, bro. They're being hypocrites, they are lying. All right?" Duke's impassioned defense highlights his frustration with audiences who champion entrepreneurship in theory, but attack creators when they actually succeed. His comments underscore dissonance between the fanbase's expectations and the organic development of creators expanding into entrepreneurship. More Than Just Target In spite of the critique, Duke was quick to point out that AMP has grander aspirations for TONE. Target is just the start. He said that he wanted TONE in other stores as well, alluding to plans to expand to supermarkets and maybe even overseas. Duke Dennis Brings DEEBLOCK To AMP Summer House The group's potential for pivoting from viral stunts to corporate deals caught the attention of CAA, one of Hollywood's top talent agencies, which signed BangBang shortly after the band formed. Fans either love it or hate it, AMP isn't just playing the content game anymore, they're making the rules. Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
Black America Web
10-07-2025
- Business
- Black America Web
Kai Cenat's AMP Partnering With Target Gets Flamed Over DEI Rollbacks
Source: AMP / Amp Target is still reeling from its DEI rollbacks, causing low foot traffic nationwide, but has something up its sleeve to hopefully win back loyal consumers. They've jumped on the streamer wave and launched a campaign featuring the AMP (Any Means Possible) collective, which includes Kai Cenat, Duke Dennis , Fanum , Agent 00 , ChrisNxtDoor , and ImDavisss. AMP has been promoting its personal care brand TONE, which features products like a luminum-free deodorant, body wash, on-the-go cologne, body mist, lip balm, and body lotion in several scents. Now all 16 offerings can be found at your local Target. It's a win for both as Target takes a stab at the Gen Z market, while AMP gains more widespread appeal beyond its millions of online followers on platforms like Kick, Twitch, YouTube, and beyond. The group even celebrated the deal by doing a sleepover in a Target store. Cenat's glad to shake up the male care space, saying in the press release, 'We really saw a gap in the shelves for a new brand to break through — and for a brand that is fresh and represents who we and our community are. Products that don't just look good but actually work and smell great.' Fanum, on the other hand, doesn't want to stranglehold TONE to the group's hoard of male fans, but rather anyone looking to switch up their grooming routine. 'With TONE, we didn't just want to be another men's brand,' Fanum says. 'We wanted to be something different and unique on shelf with clean design. And honestly, we also don't want to be only a men's brand, we want to be for everyone.' AMP's attempt at more widespread appeal would typically receive a round of applause. Still, social media views it as tone-deaf, given that Target eliminated its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts with guidance from Trump back in January. Since then, the chain store has seen a sharp fall in sales, which is only looking worse in light of Trump's war on tariffs. Target CEO Brian Cornell told analysts on a call in May that the slashing of DEI was partially responsible for the drop, and months later, instead of acknowledging the mistake, they tried to target that same demographic with the new AMP partnership. See social media's reaction to the business move below. Kai Cenat's AMP Partnering With Target Gets Flamed Over DEI Rollbacks was originally published on
Black America Web
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Reactions To Kai Cenat & Target Collab Amid DEI Commitments
Target just teamed up with popular streamer Kai Cenat and his group AMP to launch a new personal care brand called 'TONE,' sold only at Target. The group includes Kai Cenat, Duke Dennis, Agent 00, ChrisNxtDoor, and ImDavis. They kicked things off with a fun livestream sleepover inside a Target store, which got a lot of attention online. But not everyone was celebrating. Many people pointed out that Target is still facing a boycott from Black communities across the country. Target rolled back its diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, programs and hasn't really made things right. Instead of fixing that, it seems like the company is hoping big-name partnerships with Black creators will distract people from the real issues. Some see this as a smart marketing move, but others call it performative. Journalist Jemele Hill didn't hold back. She compared Target's actions to what the NFL did when it partnered with Jay-Z while ignoring calls for justice around Colin Kaepernick. Hill said, 'Target is spineless. They don't want to upset people like Donald Trump, so instead of apologizing or making things right, they're just handing out checks to famous Black people, hoping we forget what they did.' For a lot of people, that's exactly the problem. It's not about the creators themselves, who are clearly talented and influential. It's about Target using them to avoid real accountability. Until Target addresses the harm it caused and makes serious changes, no flashy partnership will be enough to win back trust from the Black community. Check out some of the reactions of AMP collaborating with Target below. Internet Reacts To Kai Cenat & Target Collab Amid Backlash Over Dropped DEI Commitments was originally published on 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
