Top Celebrity Spokesperson Fiascos
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Celebrities generally make the perfect spokespeople. Their fame can bring tons of publicity to just about any product. But what happens when a famous spokesperson has a slip-up? For the following stars, surprising -- sometimes shocking -- circumstances led companies to drop them faster than you can say, "You are SO outta here."
Next: O.J. SimpsonMore on Celebrities From AOL:
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Wilfredo Lee, AP
O.J. Simpson
Throughout the 1970s and 80s, O.J. Simpson was the classic all-American football player. Hertz car rental service began to air ads starring Simpson in 1975, hoping to capitalize on his natural charm and charisma. After reports of domestic abuse surfaced, however, the relationship between Hertz and the charming Simpson was quickly terminated.
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Next: Kate MossMore on Celebrities From AOL:
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Scott Wintrow, Getty Images
Kate Moss
Chanel is the epitome of class, and has been for nearly 100 years. So when model Kate Moss was filmed allegedly snorting cocaine, she was dropped as the face of the label. Burberry and H&M also quickly dropped campaigns starring the supermodel. Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to hire a model famous for inspiring the phrase “heroin chic” in the first place.
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Next: Martina HingisMore on Celebrities From AOL:
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Timothy A. Clary, AFP / Getty Images
Martina Hingis
If you’re receiving loads of cash for endorsing a company, it’s probably not a great idea to sue that company. Case in point: Martina Hingis. Tennis player Hingis was a celebrity spokesperson for an Italian sneaker and tennis-gear company, Tacchini. Until she sued them, that is, claiming their gear was responsible for several injuries. Needless to say, Hingis did not represent the company much longer.
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Next: Michael VickMore on Celebrities From AOL:
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Rex Brown/WireImage.com
Michael Vick
Most people would say Michael Vick lost his superstar status when charged with animal cruelty, but in fact, his star began to dim even before reports of dogfighting surfaced. Following several bad-boy incidents, such as a middle finger salute to Falcons fans and a failed drug test, Vick’s contracts with companies like Nike and Coca-Cola were not renewed. And the animal cruelty conviction certainly didn’t help.
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Next: MadonnaMore on Celebrities From AOL:
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Michael Putland, Retna
Madonna
Throughout her career Madonna has been famous for stirring things up. Her "Like a Prayer" music video was no exception. The video, which aired in 1989, showed the singer getting physical with a saint and developing stigmata. Pepsi, who had just signed a $5 million deal with Madonna, was not pleased. The company quickly dropped commercials starring the singer, and cancelled all of her future appearances.
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Next: Kirstie AlleyMore on Celebrities From AOL:
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Michael Tran, FilmMagic.com
Kirstie Alley
When the formerly svelte actress gained quite a few pounds post-"Cheers," she seemed like an ideal candidate to endorse Jenny Craig. All she had to do was tell women she got back her formerly fabulous figure thanks to Jenny. There was just one problem -- she couldn’t stop gaining weight. So unfortunately for Kirstie, she was replaced by Valerie Bertinelli, who was soon seen on TV fitting into her "skinny jeans" again.
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Next: Kobe BryantMore on Celebrities From AOL:
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Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant was a fan favorite when he first started playing basketball for the Lakers. Winning the 1997 Slam-Dunk Contest only solidified his high-flying reputation. At the top of his game, Bryant represented a number of brands, from McDonald's to Nike. His star began to fall, however, after he was arrested on rape charges in 2003. Bryant was dropped soon after the arrest, from campaigns for Nutella and McDonald's.
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Next: Ben JohnsonMore on Celebrities From AOL:
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Getty Images
Ben Johnson
By 1988, Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson had established himself as one of the top athletes in the sport. At the Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, Johnson won the 100m race and established a new world record. The excitement over his win was not to last, however, as Johnson soon tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Not only was Johnson dropped from a campaign with Diadora, he was also stripped of his gold medal and returned to Canada in disgrace.
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Next: Robert JarvikMore on Celebrities From AOL:
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KAREN BLEIER, AFP/Getty Images
Robert Jarvik
After playing a role in creating the artificial heart, Doctor Jarvik was hired by Pfizer to star in ads for cholesterol-reducing drug Lipitor. It was soon revealed, however, that "Doctor" Jarvik was not a cardiologist and was not even licensed to practice medicine. Furthermore, the ads showed Jarvik on a lake, appearing to be a very accomplished rower, when in fact he does not row at all. Pfizer soon retracted all ads starring the disgraced doctor.
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Next: LudacrisMore on Celebrities From AOL:
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Ben Rose, WireImage.com
Ludacris
Rap lyrics have long been known to contain controversial material, and Ludacris' music is no exception. In 2002, Bill O'Reilly claimed that the rapper's lyrics glamorize "life of guns, violence, drugs and disrespect of women," and urged people to boycott Pepsi products as long as Ludacris was the spokesperson. Pepsi quickly dropped its deal with the rapper.
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Next: Bruce WillisMore on Celebrities From AOL:
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Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Bruce Willis
If you're a celebrity representing a brand of alcohol, getting arrested for drunk driving is probably not a good idea. You can thank Bruce Willis for that lesson. In 1987, the actor was arrested for disturbing the peace and assaulting a police officer during a party at his home. The charges were later dropped and so was Willis -- as spokesman for Seagram's.
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Next: Dell Dude Ben CurtisMore on Celebrities From AOL:
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Dell Dude Ben Curtis
Ever wonder what happened to the guy from those "Dude, you're getting a Dell!" commercials? The super-excited Dell Dude, also known as Ben, was busted for attempting to buy a bag of marijuana in New York City. The bag was small, and Ben escaped any major charges. It was not small enough, however, for Dell to ignore. Ben was soon dropped from the campaign.
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Next: AkonMore on Celebrities From AOL:
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Scott Gries/Staff, Getty Images
Akon
If you're already a controversial rap star, a sexually explicit dance with a fifteen-year-old probably won't help clean up your image. Take Akon, for example. In 2007, after video footage of him dancing suggestively with an underage girl during one of his concerts made the internet rounds, the rapper was quickly dropped from his Verizon campaign. Maybe next time he'll dance with someone his own age.
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Next: Eric ClaptonMore on Celebrities From AOL:
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AP
Eric Clapton
In 1988, Eric Clapton's relationship with Anheuser-Busch became a bit awkward when it was revealed that he was battling alcoholism. The rock star admitted to Rolling Stone magazine that he was facing a drinking problem while filming the commercial. By the time it was aired, Clapton was in rehab. The beer company quickly determined that he was not the best role model, and their relationship was terminated.
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Next: Star JonesMore on Celebrities From AOL:
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WireImage
Star Jones
As a member of popular talk show "The View" and a Payless spokesperson, Star Jones was at her peak in 2005. However, after being viciously cut from "The View" by Barbara Walters, her star stock quickly plummeted. She was soon dropped by Payless and faced increased controversy over her refusal to come clean about her extreme weight loss (allegedly due to gastric bypass surgery).
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Next: Olsen TwinsMore on Celebrities From AOL:
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Courtesy WeberShandwick
Olsen Twins
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have been in the spotlight since the ripe old age of 9 months, and with superstardom comes a fair bit of controversy. The twins' "Got Milk?" ad was dropped after Mary-Kate entered rehab for a "health-related issue" (reportedly an eating disorder). It seems the "Got Milk?" folks did not believe Mary-Kate was an appropriate role model for young girls while supposedly battling anorexia. Go figure.
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Next: Sarah Jessica ParkerMore on Celebrities From AOL:
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GAP INC./PRN
Sarah Jessica Parker
If anyone actually believes 40 is the new 30, just take a look at Sarah Jessica Parker. You may soon find yourself singing a different tune. In 2005, the television icon turned the big 4-0 -- and was promptly dropped by Gap as the face of their label. And millions of forty-something women cried out in indignation.
More on Sarah Jessica Parker
Next: SmurfsMore on Celebrities From AOL:
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Unicef / IMPS / Peyo / AP
Smurfs
As part of a public education campaign on the ravages of war, UNICEF Belgium decided to air an animated short of the Smurfs' village as a war zone. Big mistake. Children watched in horror as their beloved Smurfs were victims of repeated bombings, and parents were not pleased. Philippe Henon, a spokesman for Unicef Belgium, said his agency "had set out to shock." Well UNICEF Belgium, mission accomplished.
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Next: Whoopi GoldbergMore on Celebrities From AOL:
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Evan Agostini, Getty Images
Whoopi Goldberg
Comedians are known for making controversial statements, but even the funniest comic can go too far. Take Whoopi Goldberg, for instance. After a double-entendre filled speech about President Bush, the comedian found herself out of a job. Slim-Fast decided not to air Goldberg’s commercial, citing the fact that her tirade "offended some consumers." Goldberg did not apologize, instead stating that "just because I'm no longer in those spots, it doesn't mean I will stop talking."
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Next: James GarnerMore on Celebrities From AOL:
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Getty Images
James Garner
The Beef Industry Council hoped to drum up some publicity by casting celebrities in their commercials. However, after spokesman James Garner had quadruple-bypass surgery (presumably thanks to artery-clogging burgers and steaks) and spokeswoman Cybill Shepard let it slip that she does not eat meat, the Council decided to cast ordinary, non-famous meat-eaters in their commercials.
More on James Garner
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Top 10 Celebrity-Filled Charity Balls
Got a spare $200,000, feeling generous, but not sure how to part with your money? You can always splurge on a table at a splashy charity event, but do lavish charity benefits actually generate any income for the organizations they promote? To give you a better insight, MainStreet has ranked 10 of the biggest, most anticipated high-profile benefits in terms of their overall star power and their financial impact.
Next Gallery: Top Celebrity BenefitsMore in Money & Finance:
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