12 Celebrity Endorsements That Aged Poorly
These are 12 real-life endorsements that went from iconic to infamous as public perception shifted.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
Celebrity endorsements are often seen as marketing gold — until they age badly in the face of scandals, shifting values, or public backlash. When a public figure falls from grace, the brands tied to them usually get dragged down too. These cases remind us that fame is fickle, and aligning with a face isn’t always a safe bet.
1. OJ Simpson for Hertz (1970s–1990s)
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O.J. Simpson was once the face of Hertz, racing through airports to show how fast their service was. He became synonymous with speed and reliability — until the 1994 murder trial changed everything. The company quietly severed ties, and the ads now feel like eerie relics from a very different time.
2. Jared Fogle for Subway (2000–2015)
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Jared’s “Subway diet” made him a household name and a symbol of weight loss success. However, when he was convicted of sex crimes involving minors, Subway’s years of marketing were instantly tainted. The campaign that once felt wholesome became a PR nightmare overnight.
3. Lance Armstrong for Nike (2000s)
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As the inspirational cancer survivor and Tour de France legend, Lance Armstrong was Nike’s golden boy. That all came crashing down when he admitted to doping after years of denial. Nike dropped him, and the yellow Livestrong wristbands became uncomfortable conversation starters.
4. Bill Cosby for Jell-O (1970s–1990s)
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Cosby was once “America’s Dad” and the friendly face of Jell-O Pudding Pops. His image as a family man sold the brand for decades — until dozens of sexual assault allegations surfaced. Suddenly, those commercials took on a chilling new undertone.
5. Tiger Woods for Accenture (2000s)
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Accenture billed Tiger as the embodiment of “high performance. Delivered.” Then came the scandal in 2009 involving extramarital affairs and a car crash that unraveled his pristine image. Accenture pulled the campaign, and Woods’ downfall became a case study in brand risk.
6. Kendall Jenner for Pepsi (2017)
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This ad tried to show Kendall Jenner ending police brutality with a can of Pepsi during a protest. The tone-deaf execution was widely mocked for trivializing serious social issues. Pepsi pulled the ad within 24 hours, but the backlash still lingers.
7. Paula Deen for Smithfield Foods (2000s–2013)
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Deen’s Southern charm made her the perfect match for pork giant Smithfield Foods. That changed when racist remarks from her deposition became public. Smithfield quickly cut ties, and the buttery, feel-good image she built crumbled overnight.
8. Chris Brown for Wrigley’s Doublemint Gum (2008)
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Brown’s catchy jingle helped refresh Wrigley’s brand with a younger audience. However, after his 2009 assault on Rihanna, Wrigley dropped him instantly. The once-bubbly endorsement became impossible to stomach.
9. Madonna for Pepsi (1989)
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Pepsi teamed up with Madonna to launch a major campaign alongside her “Like a Prayer” music video. However, the video’s religious imagery sparked a massive backlash from religious groups. Pepsi canceled the ad after one airing, despite spending millions.
10. Kanye West for Adidas (Yeezy, 2013–2022)
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Kanye’s Yeezy line was a fashion revolution and a billion-dollar brand — until his antisemitic comments in 2022. Adidas faced pressure and eventually severed ties, losing hundreds of millions. The collapse felt swift, and the shoes became symbols of controversy.
11. Joe Paterno for PepsiCo (early 2000s)
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The revered Penn State coach was featured in various brand tie-ins, including Pepsi-related products. However, his legacy was tainted after the Jerry Sandusky child abuse scandal and the revelation that Paterno failed to act. Endorsements vanished as fast as his once-untouchable reputation.
12. Michael Phelps for Kellogg’s (2008)
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Fresh off Olympic glory, Phelps had a cereal box deal with Kellogg’s. However, when a photo of him smoking marijuana surfaced, Kellogg’s dropped him for not reflecting “the image of their brand.” Ironically, public sentiment leaned in his favor, and Kellogg’s took the bigger PR hit.