P&G changes logo; devil rumors made them do it

Procter & Gamble Co. is redesigning its moon-and-stars symbol that for a decade prompted rumors linking it with the devil. The consumer products giant also is adopting two corporate logos to complement the symbol of a bearded man in a crescent moon surrounded by 13 stars, company spokesman Terry Loftus said Wednesday.

Stationery, business cards and other materials soon will feature either a scriptlike "Procter & Gamble" or "P

&

G," the company said.

The moon and stars will continue to be the company's officially registered trademark, Loftus said. But the company is eliminating curly hairs in the man's beard that look like the number 6. The sixes helped fuel the rumors that P

&

G supports Satan, since the number 666 is linked with the devil in the Bible book of Revelation.

In 1981, rumors began circulating that the trademark was a satanic symbol and that a Procter & Gamble executive had discussed satanism on Phil Donahue's television talk show.

The company tried to debunk the rumors by mailing "truth packets" in areas in which the rumors spread. Each packet contained letters from the Revs. Billy Graham and Jerry Falwell saying the company had good character and letters from Donahue's producers saying there were no such TV appearances.

P&G has filed lawsuits against a number of people suspected of spreading the rumors.

Since 1985, Procter & Gamble has gradually removed the moon-and-stars mark from most of the company's products.