15 Bizarre Celebrity Endorsements You Totally Forgot About
Famous faces are everywhere, selling everything from cars to cologne. But sometimes, even the biggest stars attach their names to the most unlikely products, creating moments that are both hilarious and unforgettable.
- Tricia Quitales
- 6 min read
Celebrity endorsements are usually polished and predictable, but some partnerships leave people scratching their heads. From A-listers promoting instant noodles to unexpected faces on household products, fame has had its fair share of strange branding moments. Many of these deals faded from memory, yet they once dominated screens, packaging, and commercials. A look back at these unusual collaborations reveals just how unpredictable the world of celebrity marketing can be.
1. Brad Pitt for Pringles
Airman 1st Class Tanaya M. Harms on Wikimedia
Long before he was an Oscar-winning actor, Brad Pitt starred in a Pringles commercial. The ad featured a sun-drenched beach party where Pitt and friends popped open cans of the iconic chips. His charm was evident, but the product choice felt out of sync with his now-refined image. Viewers today can barely believe the connection. Yet, it happened, and it lives forever on the internet.
2. Shaquille O’Neal for Icy Hot
Airman 1st Class Alex Gouchnour, U.S. Air Force on Wikimedia
It’s hard to forget the towering NBA legend endorsing a pain relief patch, but many overlook how bizarrely fitting it was. Shaq applied Icy Hot to his back while casually chatting about muscle strain on national television. His sincerity helped sell the product, but the visual was unexpectedly comical. Despite the odd pairing, it became a long-running campaign.
3. Jessica Simpson for Chicken of the Sea
Mike Kaplan on Wikimedia
After confusing tuna for chicken on her reality show, Jessica Simpson somehow ended up endorsing the very brand she misunderstood. The partnership felt like a PR stunt wrapped in irony. Fans laughed, but the company saw an opportunity in her viral moment. She played along with grace, using humor to her advantage. The endorsement is now part of pop culture history.
4. Ozzy Osbourne for I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter
F darkbladeus on Wikimedia
The Prince of Darkness promoting a buttery spread seemed like a joke at first. Ozzy’s gritty voice declaring the product’s tastiness was both hilarious and surreal. The campaign leaned into his chaotic persona while selling wholesome food. It was one of those rare moments where contrast worked in marketing. Fans were amused and intrigued all at once.
5. Kim Kardashian for Charmin Restrooms
The White House on Wikimedia
Kim Kardashian helped open a luxury Charmin-branded public restroom in New York City. The event felt over-the-top, even by her standards. As cameras flashed, she posed next to toilet paper and gleaming bathroom tiles. It was glamorous in the strangest way possible. The endorsement was short-lived but unforgettable.
6. Snoop Dogg for Hot Pockets
Official U.S. Navy Photo by Chief Photographers Mate Donald Bray on Wikimedia
Snoop Dogg rapped about Hot Pockets in a full-length music video endorsement. The collaboration mixed humor, hunger, and hip-hop in the most unexpected fashion. With custom lyrics and serious snack enthusiasm, it actually worked. Snoop’s cool factor brought attention to a very ordinary product. It remains one of the most unusual food ads to date.
7. Steven Seagal for Lightning Bolt Energy Drink
Khom-manag, cropped by Dr. Blofeld on Wikimedia
Action star Steven Seagal launched his own energy drink called Lightning Bolt. The beverage came in bizarre flavors like “Asian Experience” and promised to energize like his movies. Despite its aggressive branding, it never took off in mainstream markets. Seagal’s serious tone while promoting it only added to the surreal vibe. Today, it feels more like a meme than a real product.
8. Penélope Cruz for Nintendo DS
Photo by Sgt. Michael Connors on Wikimedia
Penélope Cruz and her sister starred in a Nintendo DS commercial playing Super Mario Bros. The idea of the Spanish actress in a friendly gaming rivalry surprised fans. She even dressed up as Mario after losing a bet in the ad. It was charming, but far from what anyone expected from a high-fashion star. The ad showed her playful side, making it strangely memorable.
9. Hulk Hogan for Pastamania
Journalist 1st Class Kristin Fitzsimmons on Wikimedia
Hulk Hogan opened a pasta-themed restaurant in a mall food court called Pastamania. He promoted it with wrestling-style intensity, claiming it was the future of fast food. The idea of a wrestler pushing pasta was a strange leap. The venture was short-lived, closing within a year. Still, it lives on as a cult classic in endorsement oddities.
10. David Beckham for Brylcreem
US EMbassy London on Wikimedia
In the early days of his career, David Beckham promoted Brylcreem hair gel. He was the face of slick hairstyles and sharp looks before shifting to more upscale brands. At the time, it fit his image perfectly, but it feels out of place now. Seeing a global fashion icon endorse an old-school hair product is a nostalgic shock. It reminds fans how much his brand has evolved.
11. Lindsay Lohan for Lawyer.com
EpicFlame on Wikimedia
Lindsay Lohan partnered with Lawyer.com, surprising nearly everyone. The ad campaign played off her troubled past with a wink and a nod. She joked about needing the site herself, showing rare self-awareness. While the brand got attention, the collaboration puzzled many. It was a bold move that blended humor with personal history.
12. Robert Pattinson for Japanese Sodas
Amirho3in tavkoli on Pexels
Robert Pattinson once starred in a colorful Japanese commercial for canned soda. His dramatic expressions and choreographed movements were a far cry from his moody Twilight persona. The ad was energetic and strange, with over-the-top visuals. Fans loved the rare glimpse of his quirky side. It showed that even brooding actors have playful endorsement moments.
13. Chuck Norris for Total Gym
Staff Sgt. Tony Foster on Wikimedia
Chuck Norris became the face of Total Gym in a long-running infomercial campaign. His martial arts background made the fitness connection somewhat logical, but the delivery felt awkward. With dramatic demonstrations and intense narration, the ad became unintentionally funny. People bought the product more out of fascination than function. It is now a cult classic in late-night television history.
14. Britney Spears for Pepsi and… Got Milk?
U.S. Navy photo by Chief Warrant Officer 4 Seth Rossman. on Wikimedia
While Britney Spears’ Pepsi deal was huge, her Got Milk? campaign was unexpectedly awkward. The image of her with a milk mustache didn’t quite match her glam persona. The contrast between pop star sparkle and wholesome dairy left people confused. It was widely seen but not deeply remembered. Her Pepsi ad still overshadows it completely.
15. Paris Hilton for Carl’s Jr.
Office of Congressman Greg Steube on Wikimedia
Paris Hilton washed a car while eating a burger in a highly suggestive Carl’s Jr. ad. The commercial was more about shock value than burgers. It aired with controversy and raised eyebrows across the board. While it captured attention, it felt disconnected from actual food marketing. Paris never once looked like she had eaten fast food before.