Michael Phelps sponsors happy over bong shot
The original expert consensus over the Michael Phelps bong picture had the Olympic champion losing endorsements, but so far sponsors are actually loving the attention.
In the now famous shot, Phelps was wearing an Omega watch. “You can’t buy this kind of product placement — believe me, we’ve tried!” a spokesman for Omega Watches told The Huffington Post, “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!”
The same report continues by saying other Phelps sponsors see the picture as an opportunity:
Contrary to the negative backlash which advertisers used to go through to keep imaginary customers happy, Phelps’s sponsors are proactive, seizing on Phelps’ snapshot as a way to re-market a guy the country already loves, only now with 10% more bad boy included. “Girls love a bad boy!” the Power Bar communications director stated. “And everyone likes getting 10% more of something for free.”
Michael Phelps: blessed not only in the pool, and out of it as well. You wouldn’t see many other sports stars sail away from something like this.
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Feb 6, 2009
MIchael Phelps has done more positive things outside of the swimming pool, being a good citizen and role model than just a very few stumbles. As a mother and grandmother, I am fully supportive of the young man and I intend to boycot all Kellogg products from now on.
Feb 15, 2009
I think everyone makes mistakes in life and Michael Phelps is obviously no different. He will have to suffer the consequences for this very public mistake and has already had some sponsors drop him. I do not think this should take away from his unbelievable accomplishment in last summers Olypmics. He is very young and is still learning and adjusting to being in the spotlight. He is an incredible athelete and still a role model for people everywhere. I am by no means condoning his actions but think that people should cut him some slack because he is still young and not perfect. I understand why his sponsors have dropped him because they dont want his actions outside the pool representing their products. But he did make a mistake and also sincerely apologized for it. I think that we need to believe him and give him a second chance because he really is an amazing person and athelete.