Many celebrities make a lot of money from endorsement deals. Some of the most popular and highest-paid celebrities are those with successful endorsement careers, including models like Karlie Kloss and Cara Delevingne, as well as singers such as Beyonce and Lady Gaga. However, things don’t always go smoothly for celebrities who take on endorsement deals. From product failure to public scandals, many potential risks are involved in an endorsement deal.
Talk about blunders! Well, it’s hard to feel sorry for some of these celebrities, especially when they seem to be unapologetic when they put their foot in it. We’re looking at you Kanye…
‘Trust me when I say, there are quite a number of colorful stories when it comes to celebrity endorsements. Sure, for the most part they’re a successful collaboration, but then there are the ones which are the complete opposite of that. The word ‘debacle’ comes to mind when describing some of the not-so-great stories’
1. Kendall Jenner’s Pepsi Fail
In 2017, protestors were protesting the police shootings of unarmed black men and the resulting racial tensions were boiling over. Pepsi decided to respond to the protests with an ad featuring Kendall Jenner handing a police officer a can of Pepsi. Social media erupted with people criticizing the ad for being insensitive and tone-deaf. Pepsi ended up pulling the ad and apologized. The backlash was so huge, it actually pushed Pepsi’s stock down.
2. Justin Bieber’s Samsung Flop
The limited edition of the Galaxy S7 Smartphone released in 2016 by Justin Bieber and Samsung was called “mediocre” and “underwhelming” by tech reviewers. The reason was that underneath the special Bieber-designed gold case was exactly the same device. It turned out that the phone was chosen by Samsung because it was the cheapest device they could find. The partnership between Bieber and Samsung did not do much to drive sales because Bieber’s fanbase consists of teenagers and young adults who are not in the market for a smartphone. Marketing is only as strong as the product it’s promoting.
3. Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop Disaster
In 2016, actress Gwyneth Paltrow launched her lifestyle website Goop. Her goal was to connect with her fans while also promoting products she loves. However, Goop has been criticized for promoting “quack” therapies and selling overpriced products. Paltrow has been criticized for her lack of medical knowledge and not being transparent about how her products are reviewed. For example, the “Yoni” rocks sold on the site that was supposed to “increase your pleasure” were actually just granulated jade stones.
4. Nicki Minaj’s Roman Collab Faux Pas
In 2017, rapper Nicki Minaj collaborated with designer Roman Gil. However, the launch ended up damaging Gil’s brand and image. Before the launch, Gil posted a photo on Instagram that was misconstrued as a new product from Minaj’s line, Roman Xtend. He tried to clear up the confusion with a follow-up post, but by then the damage had been done. A careful, planned approach to marketing is the best way to ensure there are no mistakes.
M.A.C Cosmetics and Ariana Grande
In 2017, MAC Cosmetics teamed up with singer Ariana Grande to launch a line of lipsticks. However, the launch was overshadowed by Grande’s split from her fiancé and the website got hacked. M.A.C Cosmetics issued an apology on its website.
6. Olivia Palermo’s Outfit Confusion
In 2017, 10 Corso Como and model Olivia Palermo launched a new line of clothing. However, the launch was confusing for people because it was unclear if the pieces were from the new line or from Palermo’s personal collection.
7. Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and Ed Hardy’s Mistake
In 2011, actresses Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron teamed up with clothing brand Ed Hardy to promote a new line of clothing. However, the brand was pulled from shelves a few weeks after the launch due to a lawsuit alleging that the designs were plagiarized. If a brand is involved in a legal dispute, it can reflect badly on the celebrities who endorsed it.
8. KFC and Mariah Carey
It’s pretty obvious that fried chicken isn’t a good fit for a singer who promotes healthy living, but that didn’t stop KFC from partnering with Mariah Carey in 2003. The partnership ended as quickly as it began, however, when Mariah Carey was sued by a KFC franchise owner. The franchise owner claimed that Carey was responsible for a decline in sales.
9. McDonald’s and Justin Timberlake
It’s hard to imagine Justin Timberlake as a spokesperson for anything, let alone a fast-food restaurant. The “sexy” image he projected wasn’t the one McDonald’s wanted to promote, however, so this endorsement deal went south very quickly.
10. Justin Bieber and Sean Combs: Failing Fast Fashion
In 2017, Justin Bieber and Sean Combs partnered with Poshmark to open a pop-up store, which featured apparel and accessories from their merchandise lines. However, the store failed to meet expectations due to low-quality products that were priced too high for average consumers.
