The impetus for a morals clause in contracts for "talent", i.e., artistic performers, appears to have been a reaction to the
Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle case in 1921. Subsequent to media outcry,
Universal Studios decided to add a morals clause to contracts. The text of the 1921 Universal Studios clause read as follows: "The actor (actress) agrees to conduct himself (herself) with due regard to public conventions and morals and agrees that he (she) will not do or commit anything tending to degrade him (her) in society or bring him (her) into public hatred, contempt, scorn or ridicule, or tending to shock, insult or offend the community or outrage public morals or decency, or tending to the prejudice of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company or the motion picture industry. In the event that the actor (actress) violates any term or provision of this paragraph, then the Universal Film Manufacturing Company has the right to cancel and annul this contract by giving five (5) days' notice to the actor (actress) of its intention to do so." The first morals clause for a professional athlete may be a November 11, 1922 contract addendum for
Babe Ruth. The clause stated: Apparently, Colonel
Jake Ruppert (owner of the Yankees) had also hoped to curtail Babe's notorious womanizing. Ruth is quoted as replying, "I'll promise to go easier on drinking and to get to bed earlier, but not for you, fifty thousand dollars, or two-hundred and fifty thousand dollars will I give up women. They're too much fun." ==21st century use==