On Monday, a photo broke of Olympian Michael Phelps smoking marijuana out of a bong. The backlash was immediately palpable, with Kellogg's dropping its endorsement deal with the champion and USA Swimming suspending him from competition. Now supporters of Phelps, finding the reactions to be far too harsh, are taking matters into their own hands and petitioning to boycott Kellogg's products.
The online petition includes some amusing (and rather valid) points, such as the fact that "Kellogg's has profited for decades on the food tastes of marijuana using Americans with the munchies." Kellogg's was one of the first companies to bring Phelps on board for a mega-endorsement deal after he earned eight gold medals in last year's Summer Olympics. His splashy photo adorned boxes of Corn Flakes and Frosted Flakes.
Although non-food sponsors such as Omega and Speedo are standing by Phelps, I wonder if his other food sponsor, Subway, will do the same. What do you think of the scandal? Will you sign the petition to boycott the company's products?
Update: BuzzNewsRoom reports that Subway has removed all semblance of Michael Phelps from its website as it prepares to drop his endorsement deal.
Marni
Phi
Lila
I have no issue with Phelp's habits out of the pool and I think people are being super uptight about the whole thing, but I'm not going to boycott Kellogg's. It's their choice, their money, their image.
1Let's see, Phelps get caught doing something illegal and somehow he should continue to be rewarded for this behavior with lucrative endorsement deals? Regardless of one's attitude about pot, the fact remains that it's still illegal and when you do something illegal you should be prepared to suffer the consequences!
2Well it's Kellogg's right to cut endorsement.
And it's a consumer's right to boycott.
3It's Kellog's choice of course, but the world needs to collectively pull that giant stick of it's as*. He's what, 22? He's a kid, it's his right to be a kid and to make mistakes and all that jazz. I give this whole thing a big SO WHAT?
4I give it a big so what too but at the same time MAD kids look up to him!
5I could care less that he smokes...MANY people do but for him to be careless about it? Idiot.
I understand completely why Kellogs (as well as others) have "dropped" him. At least for the moment.
huh - i guess it's really interesting to hear about which brands are still going to stand by him. honestly, i feel like it's the brands that have a target that's more to younger consumers that are pulling him off their sites etc. i'm sure he'll rebound.
6Yeah no.
Phelps made an error and no doubt his contracts has a morality clause as with most celebrity contracts.
He broke that clause by toking. His fault he should suffer the consequences and heck I may go buy some Corn Flakes without Enormous mug on them just to show me support for Kellogg's decision.
I'm sure toking didn't get him to the Olympics, did not increase his lung capacity or coordination and he definitely wasn't toking while training because the USOC would have kicked his arse to the cur long along. So why should he be rewarded when he foolishly makes an error like this. The punishment is temporary he'll recover from it. But the USOC and the IOC will never trust him again and will be watching him and testing every chance they get.
7I knew I should have saved that box..
Ha, just kidding. I can't say I'm not surprised; something like this was bound to happen. It wouldn't be hollywood if it didn't. And I would not sign a petition for him.
Oh, and I still think that is the worst photoshopping I've seen in a while.
8I don't care one way or the other about Phelps, and I don't smoke pot... but, I find this whole thing ridiculous. (Not to mention a little funny. The company responsible for PopTarts and Frosted Flakes pulling an endorsement because of marijuana? Nothing like biting the hand that feeds you... Heh.)
9This is just absurd. It's pot; who cares. It's not like he was smoking crack. People need to just get over it. Getting a DUI would have been way worse. Relax, people...
10Pot may be natural versus. cocaine; however, it is still illegal. It should have the same consequences as drinking and driving or any other felony. Phelps knew that smoking pot was against the law and the attitude of "Oh, it's just pot" is the same attitude that leads in worse drugs. C'mon.. if I were in the public eye like that, I would be watching my every single move, not hitting a bong while dozens of college students around me have digital cameras.
11Also, whose to say he didn't smoke pot, then drive later that night? He didn't get caught for that... yet
12Phelps does have a DUI.
An Cocaine is just as natural as Marijuana.
Cocaine comes from the leaves of the coca tree. How is that not natural?
13I personally think the world has become FAR too concerned with people in the public eye's personal lives. I can almost GUARANTEE you that the majority of the bigwigs behind the Kellogg's brand have all done "reprehensible" things in their past (no doubt including underage drinking, DUI, and pot-smoking).... and yet, they face no consequences as they continue to ride the giant profit wave of a brand that makes sugary cereals and treats that are and have been contributing to this country's growing obesity epidemic for decades! The whole scenario seems so twisted. We've truly lost sight of what's important in life.
On the whole, Michael Phelps is much more a role model than an irresponsible pothead.
Granted, those under closer scrutiny ("celebs") should be more careful around cameras considering children are watching and imitating. But pleeeeaaaseeeee.... can we all just calm down a bit and just be happy? :]
14I see both sides but I think they are making it a bigger issue than it needs to be. Yeah he got ripped with college kids, I am sure he is not a habitual offender. Hell, truth be told, he was probably rallied to hit it in the first place. It is college after all.
15I can feel for Kellogg's but I think pulling him immediately was a bit harsh and hasty. They should have slapped him on the hand and warned him for future reference.
Just another reason why no one should be allowed to take pictures at partys!
16The whole thing is so blown out of proportion. If it were a picture of him drinking beer, would anyone care? Sure marijuana's illegal, but more people die from alcohol.
17I do totally see both sides - however he's getting paid a lot of money, and if he is seen as a role model for kids, I don't blame companies for not wanting him as a face for their products. Becasuse so many kids look up to him..that's what makes me NOT want to have a "so what he's just young" attitude about all this. Although this opinion is also taking into account his previous DUI..not just the smoking pot.
18*because
I can't type today:(
19God. People have done worse things. I really don't care much.
20No, I wouldn't sign that petition. I think Kellogg's is well within their rights to decide who their spokes-athlete would be. Kellogg gets to decide who they would pay (handsomely) to represent them. Phelps is NOT entitled to represent Kellogg's. Phelps is NOT entitled to Kellogg's money.
Besides, Phelps has a DUI, and now proven to have possessed marijuana. And KELLOGG'S is at fault for dropping him?? This makes not ethical or moral sense. JMHO.
21This is upsetting because he should know better. I heard people say that "Well, if the world's best athlete is smoking pot and winning awards, then it can't be that bad." That could very well be the attitude young people adopt and it is a shame that he didn't realize that. But like the rest of us, he is human and he made a mistake. He will just have to deal with the consequences (like the rest of us have to do when we make a mistake).
22This is a NORMAL move for any company with a "celebrity" who "acts up".
23so, yeah, who gives a crap about it?!
He's an idiot. The purpose of an endorsement deal, such as Phelp's with Kellog's, is to link the brand's image with that of the endorser's. His image is tarnished is the eyes of many of the soccer moms and like that purchase this product. Of course they need to distance their brand from him now. As far as the boycott goes, I think it will have no impact at all but it's their right.
24It is not fair what has happened to Phelps, he didn't win 8 medals by smoking pot! yes he is young and it was a stupid mistake but the sponsors should not be so hard on him, because they have all been young and have made stupid mistakes too, and I'm sure there's still some of them that are still smoking pot!. I know how college kids are and I'm sure he was pressured into it, and what bothers me the most is the as..h...that took the picture!
25phelps is the "all-american" boy, if you haven't smoked pot at least once in your youth, you haven't lived in america. people get a grip, it's pot, not heroin. shesh!! he is still an american hero. we have had presidents admit the same.
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