19 Aug, 2011

Trust Me!

Seems like former "Golden Girls" actress Betty White really does have the Midas touch.

White, 89, is both the most popular and most trusted celebrity with Americans and the person most likely to drive up the business of a brand she might choose to endorse, according to a poll released on Wednesday.

But the Reuters/Ipsos poll suggested that companies should stay away from Paris Hilton and Charlie Sheen if they want to promote their products.

The socialite and reality TV actress, and the fired "Two and A Half Men" star topped the list of the most unpopular and least trusted personalities and were deemed most likely to damage any brands they choose to support.

White, the only surviving member of the key cast members of TV's "Golden Girls" 1980s comedy, has enjoyed a career resurgence in the last few years as a saucy senior in films like "The Proposal" and the TV show "Hot in Cleveland".

She also won an Emmy Award last year for hosting satirical sketch show "Saturday Night Live".

White scored an 86 percent favorable opinion in the Reuters/Ipsos poll, beating Oscar winners Denzel Washington, Sandra Bullock and Clint Eastwood in the survey of the 100 most popular personalities. She easily edged out Britain's Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton (5th), Oprah Winfrey (6th), and U.S. first lady Michelle Obama (15th) in the most trusted personalities ranking.

Some 44 percent of those questioned said they would be more likely to do business with a company if White endorsed it.

At the other extreme, 54 percent of the 2,012 Americans questioned for the poll said they would trust a company less if it were endorsed by Sheen, with Hilton coming in second.

Pop star Britney Spears, actor Mel Gibson and golfer Tiger Woods -- who lost several major endorsements after his 2009 sex scandal -- also fared badly.

Below is a list of the top 10 most popular personalities with their "favorable" rating by percentage of voters.
1. Betty White ...........86 pct favorable
2. Denzel Washington .....85 pct
3. Sandra Bullock ........84 pct
4. Clint Eastwood ........83 pct
5. Tom Hanks .............81 pct
6. Harrison Ford .........80 pct 
7. (tie) Morgan Freeman ........79 pct  
7. (tie) Kate Middleton ........79 pct
9. Will Smith ............77 pct
10. Johnny Depp ...........76 pct

Full Story and Photo can be found at Reuters.com.

Psalm 9:9-11 (ESV)

 9The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed,
   a stronghold in times of trouble.
10And those who know your name put their trust in you,
   for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

 11Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion!
   Tell among the peoples his deeds!

What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about trusting in a name?

Do you ever wonder who you can trust? We may not have the concerns of a major corporation looking for a face for their product whom people will trust, but we do want to know that we can trust those around us. Sometimes, however, trusting others backfires on us and we get hurt. When that happens take some time to remember the words of Psalm 9, "And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you." 

How can I connect today's God's Story scripture to My Life?

  • Thank God today for His promise to be trusted.
  • Click Here and take some time to read more verses from Psalms about trust on Biblegateway.com.

How can I connect Today's Story, My Story, and God's Story to Others?

  • Is there someone in your life whom your completely trust? Let them know that today.
  • Is there someone in your life who has confided in and trusts you completely? Spend some time with them this weekend talking about today's story and what it means to trust in God.
  • Is there someone in your life who struggles with trusting others? Share with them this weekend about the God in whom you put your trust. Maybe you could even read some of the verses from Psalms with them.
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