Celebrities are able to earn cash through endorsement deals with high-profile brands but controversy can bring the agreements to an end. From a foolish can of Pepsi to offensive social media posts, here are 10 stars who lost their deals.
The stars hit in the pocket!
Updated
Celebrities are able to earn cash through endorsement deals with high-profile brands but controversy can bring the agreements to an end. From a foolish can of Pepsi to offensive social media posts, here are 10 stars who lost their deals.
Michael Phelps
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Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time and won eight gold medals at the 2008 Games in Beijing. He became the face of serial brand Kellogg’s following his success but lost the endorsement the following year after a photo emerged that appeared to show him taking drugs at a party.
Ronaldinho
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A can of Pepsi proved to be costly for the Brazilian soccer legend. Ronaldinho appeared at a press conference drinking Pepsi in 2012 despite being an ambassador for arch-rivals Coca-Cola. Coke chiefs pulled the plug on the deal and Ronaldinho’s pockets ended up $760,000 lighter.
Wayne Rooney
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The former Manchester United footballer had an endorsement deal with Coca-Cola at the peak of his powers as a sportsman, but a series of negative headlines saw him dropped by the drinks giant in 2010.
Kate Moss
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The model lost lucrative contracts with brands such as Chanel and Burberry after photos emerged of her taking drugs in 2005. Moss has managed to rebuild her career and reflected on how the scandal left her feeling “sick and angry” in an interview earlier this year.
Tiger Woods
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Tiger Woods is one of the greatest golf players of all time but things unravelled in 2009 as he admitted being unfaithful to his then wife Elin Nordegren. As a result, he lost deals with companies such as Gillette, Gatorade and Accenture as a string of mistresses came forward.
Kanye West
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2022 has been a turbulent year for Kanye West and his anti-semitic social media posts have hit him hard financially. The resulting backlash to the rapper’s comments have cost him deals with Adidas, Gap and Balenciaga. The star – who changed his name to Ye in 2021 – lost his spot on the Forbes Billionaires’ List as a result of the cancellations.
Manny Pacquiao
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The legendary Filipino boxer’s relationship with Nike came to an end in 2016 after he derogatory remarks about same-sex couples. The sports wear giant said in a statement: “Nike strongly opposes discrimination of any kind and has a long history of standing up for the rights of the LGBT community.”
Magic Johnson
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The basketball icon shocked the world in 1991 when he retired from the support after contracting HIV. Companies such as KFC and Converse distanced themselves from Johnson – who has since gone on to forge a successful business career himself.
Lance Armstrong
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The disgraced cyclist’s career was left in tatters in 2012 after it was revealed that he used performance-enhancing drugs in winning seven consecutive Tour de France titles. The scandal cost Armstrong an estimated $150 million as he lost deals with Nike, Oakley and Honey Stinger and was stripped of his victories.
Lindsay Lohan
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Lindsay Lohan lost her endorsement deal with the clothing brand Odaingerous in 2013 after she was sentenced to 90 days in a rehab facility on charges of reckless driving after she was involved in a car accident the year prior.
Originally published on celebretainment.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange.
