14 Famous People Who Were Dropped By Brands After They Did Something That Was Controversial, Inappropriate, Or Offensive
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1.Adidas and Gap terminated their partnerships with Kanye West following his recent antisemitic remarks. Balenciaga, Foot Locker, Vogue, and Anna Wintour have also cut ties with the musician over his comments.
Adidas released a statement when they terminated this partnership saying, "Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech. Ye’s recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the company’s values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness."
Gap also made a statement saying, "In September, Gap announced ending its Yeezy Gap partnership. Our former partner's recent remarks and behavior further underscore why."
2.In 2008, Sharon Stone was dropped as the face of Christian Dior's advertisements after implying that an earthquake in China was karma for the country’s treatment of Tibet.
3.In 2011, Gilbert Gottfried was dropped as the voice of the Aflac duck after he made a series of jokes on Twitter referencing a massive tsunami that had hit Japan.
The day after Aflac dropped him, Gilbert apologized. “I sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by my attempt at humor regarding the tragedy in Japan,” he said. “I meant no disrespect, and my thoughts are with the victims and their families.”
4.In 2004, Whoopi Goldberg was dropped as SlimFast's spokesperson after she made sexually explicit puns about President Bush's name at a fundraiser in New York for Democratic nominee John Kerry.
A SlimFast general manager stated that some customers were offended by her jokes. Whoopi responded with a statement saying, "While I appreciate what the SlimFast people need to do in order to protect their business, I must also do what I need to do as an artist, as a writer and as an American, not to mention as a comic.”
5.In 2016, Ryan Lochte lost his endorsements from Ralph Lauren, Speedo, Airweave, and Gentle Hair Removal after he admitted to "exaggerating" a story that he and three of his teammates had been robbed at gunpoint at a gas station. The real story was that the "armed robbers" were security guards that the swimmers gave money to after they had vandalized the gas station.
6.In 2016, Chevrolet dropped its sponsorship of The Wendy Williams Show after Wendy questioned why HBCUs exist, saying, “I would be really offended if there was a school that was known as a historically white college.”
After the backlash, Wendy apologized on her show. “I want to apologize to everyone that I might have offended regarding my remarks,” she said. “I was wrong.”
7.In 2005, Chanel and Burberry severed ties with Kate Moss after she confirmed that the tabloid reports of her cocaine use were correct.
8.In 2016, Maria Sharapova's relationships with Porsche, Nike, and Tag Heuer were suspended after she failed a drug test. She said the drug was Meldonium, that she'd been prescribed it by a doctor, and was on it for 10 years. Before then, Meldonium wasn't on the banned list and Maria was not aware when it was added to the list.
9.In 2017, Squatty Potty, a toilet stool company, pulled Kathy Griffin's commercial after released photos showed her holding the fake head of a decapitated President Trump.
Hours after the photos went up, Kathy issued an apology. "I went too far," she said. "I made a mistake and I was wrong."
10.In 2010, Tiger Woods was dropped by Gillette, Pepsi, Accenture, and AT&T after news of his several extramarital affairs was made public.
11.In 2007, Nike cut ties with Michael Vick after he was convicted for his participation in an illegal dogfighting ring.
After Michael pled guilty in court, he made a statement apologizing. "I take full responsibility for my actions. For one second will I sit right here — not for one second will I sit right here and point the finger and try to blame anybody else for my actions or what I've done." In 2011, Nike re-signed the athlete.
12.In 2009, Kellogg's decided to end their endorsement deal with Michael Phelps after photos were leaked of him smoking marijuana.
After the photos were leaked, the athlete apologized for his "regrettable behavior" and "bad judgment."
13.In 2013, Paula Deen was dumped by Food Network, Smithfield Foods, and Caesars Palace after she admitted to making racist remarks, racist jokes, and using the n-word in the past.
14.And lastly, in 2017, Dannon dumped Cam Newton as their spokesperson after he got backlash for saying “it’s funny to hear a female talk about routes" when a female reporter asked him a question during a press conference.
Dannon explained cutting ties with him in a statement. "We are shocked and disheartened at the behavior and comments of Cam Newton towards Jourdan Rodrigue, which we perceive as sexist and disparaging to all women. It is entirely inconsistent with our commitment to fostering equality and inclusion in every workplace. It's simply not OK to belittle anyone based on gender. We have shared our concerns with Cam and will no longer work with him."
Cam apologized and expressed that "what I did was extremely unacceptable."
