10 Strange Celebrity Endorsements You Probably Forgot About
Celebrities will put their names on almost anything, but some endorsements are so bizarre they’re almost unbelievable.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
Over the years, celebrities have lent their faces (and reputations) to products that made fans do a double take. From weird food collaborations to questionable tech gadgets, these endorsements ranged from hilarious to downright baffling. Let’s take a look at 10 strange celebrity endorsements you probably forgot about.
1. Britney Spears for Skechers Sneakers
Glenn Francis on Wikimedia Commons
Before Skechers was known for chunky dad shoes, they tried to be cool by getting Britney Spears as their endorser. In the early 2000s, she starred in ads promoting glittery platform sneakers aimed at teens. The problem? Britney was rarely seen actually wearing them. While the campaign boosted sales, it faded fast, leaving Skechers to pivot to comfort over pop star glam.
2. Snoop Dogg for Hot Pockets
Toglenn on Wikimedia Commons
Snoop Dogg has endorsed everything from weed paraphernalia to luxury cars, but his 2012 Hot Pockets ad is next-level bizarre. He reworked his hit “Drop It Like It’s Hot” into “Pocket Like It’s Hot,” rapping about gooey cheese and pepperoni. The commercial featured dancing snacks, gold-plated microwaves, and Snoop literally chilling inside a giant Hot Pocket. It was absurd, but somehow, it worked.
3. Ozzy Osbourne for I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!
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The Prince of Darkness and margarine? In 2006, Ozzy Osbourne shocked fans by starring in an ad for I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!, swapping out his usual bat-biting antics for breakfast spreads. The campaign leaned into the humor of Ozzy’s mumbling and wild persona, showing him as an unlikely but enthusiastic butter alternative fan. It was a strange choice, but at least it was buttery smooth.
4. Donald Trump for Domino’s Pizza
Shealeah Craighead on Wikimedia Commons
Long before politics, Donald Trump had a knack for unusual endorsements, including a 2005 Domino’s ad where he shared a pizza with a monkey in a tuxedo. Promoting the brand’s new “Steak Fanatic Pizza,” the commercial featured Trump discussing business deals with the monkey while eating slices. It was weird, slightly unsettling, and definitely unforgettable.
5. Kim Kardashian for Charmin Toilets
The White House on Wikimedia Commons
Kim Kardashian has promoted high fashion and luxury brands, but in 2010, she made headlines for endorsing Charmin toilets. She helped open the brand’s luxury public restrooms in Times Square, posing next to a giant plush Charmin bear. While the event was meant to be glamorous, fans couldn’t help but laugh at the idea of a reality TV queen hyping up a bathroom experience.
6. Hulk Hogan for the Hulk Hogan Thunder Mixer
Petty Officer 1st Class Kristin Fitzsimmons, USN on Wikimedia Commons
Hulk Hogan almost put his name on a grilling machine (before George Foreman took that deal), but instead, he ended up promoting the Thunder Mixer, a tiny battery-powered blender. The 2000s infomercial featured Hogan enthusiastically demonstrating how the mixer could blend protein shakes, pancake batter, and more—all with the push of a button. The product flopped, proving that not all wrestlers make great kitchen appliance moguls.
7. Brad Pitt for Pringles
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Before becoming a Hollywood megastar, Brad Pitt starred in a 1989 Pringles commercial, running shirtless on the beach while chomping on chips. The ad was pure ‘80s energy—tanned models, slow-motion potato chip crunching, and Pitt flashing his future-movie-star grin. While he likely doesn’t list it on his résumé, it’s proof that even A-listers have humble beginnings in snack food commercials.
8. Justin Bieber for Someday Perfume
Lou Stejskal on Wikimedia Commons
At the height of Bieber Fever in 2011, Justin Bieber launched Someday, a perfume designed for his teenage girl fanbase. The ad featured Bieber sensually whispering and flying through the clouds with a girl wearing the scent. Despite the cringe factor, the perfume was a massive success, raking over $3,000,000 in just three weeks. Who knew Bieber cologne was a money-making machine?
9. Shaquille O’Neal for The General Insurance
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Shaq has endorsed everything from Gold Bond to Icy Hot, but his partnership with The General Insurance might be his strangest. The company’s animated mascot, a tiny general in a military hat, became an unexpected sidekick for the basketball legend in a series of low-budget, CGI-heavy commercials. Despite the awkward animation, the ads went viral, proving Shaq can sell just about anything.
10. Paris Hilton for Carl’s Jr.
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In 2005, Paris Hilton starred in a Carl’s Jr. commercial that had almost nothing to do with burgers. The ad featured her washing a Bentley in a bikini, seductively biting into a giant burger while drenched in suds. It was controversial, over-the-top, and totally Paris. Though it sparked outrage, it also put Carl’s Jr. commercials on the map for years.