I Got Your Back
Within two weeks of each other, the news of eight-time gold medal winner Michael Phelps’ bong picture and Chris Brown’s still unfolding assault situation hit the media circuit. As sad as it is, these types of situations are nothing new. Lindsay Lohan has the substance abuse topic locked up, and several celebs such as Busta Rhymes and Kid Rock have been tangled in the assault web. But the charges seem to be where the similarity is drawn. After a few weeks, maybe months, LiLo and Kid are out of the public eye and back to doing…well, whatever it is they do. But for celebs such as Phelps and Brown, the consequences of their actions go far deeper than a few negative blurbs in a tabloid.
Despite Phelps’ immediate public apology, rumors of Phelps losing several of his endorsements began flying. Although it has only been confirmed that Kellogg has officially dropped Phelps as an endorser, the repercussions of Phelps’ actions are clearly running deep.
Although the situation with Chris Brown and Rihanna (or not Rihanna) has yet to be clarified, Wrigley’s has already separated themselves after a two-year partnership with Brown. The news is, Wrigley’s severance from the star is temporary, pending the outcome of the charges.
Do you think that, in either case, the endorsers’ decision to isolate themselves from their celebrity partners is a good one? A fair one? Or do you think that endorsers should take a route similar to Phelps’ endorser, Omega Watches? For those that missed it, the quote was as follows:
“You can’t buy this kind of product placement — believe me, we’ve tried!” a spokesman for Omega Watches said, giddily. “He’s modeling one of our blinged-out products as he expertly removes the carb from the bong, which we will also be selling replicas of: The Poseidon, as we are proudly calling it, holds actual water, just like what Michael Phelps swims in!”
Words Jonnine Yarbrough
As far as this watch company is concerned and their quote: “He’s modeling one of our blinged-out products as he expertly removes the carb from the bong, which we will also be selling replicas of: The Poseidon, as we are proudly calling it, holds actual water, just like what Michael Phelps swims in!”
All I have to say is “Seriously”!
I have mixed emotions about these people and their public lives because none of this stuff would even matter if they weren’t known across the country and the world. The media hypes up all of their “issues” like they were previously saints. People are are only human!. We ALL make mistakes and have done stupid stuff, but it’s not broadcast all over the media. I say I don’t condone their actions but hey it’s their life and I will not judge them. What they do on their personal time is between them and their maker.
I think that it is a very tough decision for everybody involved. And it all decides on how extreme the action is by the endorsed. On the one you can look at it as any publicity is good publicity. From a business standpoint by keeping the endorsements the company can look as if they agree or support the destructive behavior of the endorsed. But celebrities should know by now that they are under constant scrutiny and that the smallest action that is considered out of the norm by society standards could affect their careers in an undesirable fashion. It doesn’t matter if its as extreme as Britney’s breakdown or something as small as 2004 democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean’s yeehaw heard around the world.