Photo published by Britain's News of the World
Kellogg Co. will not be renewing its contract with Michael Phelps, 2008 Olympic phenom, after photos of him smoking marijuana surfaced last week in Britains's News of the World tabloid.
Makes one think of what a convenient exit this is for Kellogg's. Phelp's contract with the brand is undisclosed, but it was up for renegotiation at the end of February. Certainly, they've featured Olympic athletes on their packages of Kellogg's brand cereals before. These include figure skaters Kristi Yamaguchi (1992), Scott Hamilton and Rosalynn Sumner (together, 1984) as well as speed skaters Bonnie Blair (1992 and 1994) and Dan Jansen (1992).
Certainly the only athlete featured more than once on Kellogg's cereal box was Bonnie Blair -- and she was featured in non-consecutive years, 1992 and 1994. Meaning: They likely had no plans to extend Phelp's contract, but dropping him now makes a strong statement to the public about the company's ethics and integrity.
And that's how you win the hearts of corn flake eating citizens across the country--and get a little press to boot!
What do you think? Feel free to drop a line below.
BREAKING NEWS: Apparently Kellogg's claims the timing was coincidental. Sure... then why not report this at month's end?
Comments
It's not like it's steroids. Let us Blaze once in a while. Can we live a little
I'm not sure that Kellogg's made a very effective statement on "ethics and integrity" -- maybe they diverted attention from the fact that their core business is pushing heavily sweetened cereals to children in a market where childhood obesity is epidemic (by dumping a spokesperson who's one of the few people in the world could eat Frosted Flakes by the boxload without gaining body fat). You're right, though, it's a cheap and easy exit from a contract they probably didn't want to renew.
I agree that Kellogs was not going to renew the contract this year and therefore just used the press for free publicity at Phelps expense. In this case Kellogs may end up the biggest loser. Kellogs has the tainted peanut butter issue to deal with and recalls since they were using the dirty and now closed peanut butter factory in their products. Which ever CEO reccommended Kellogs to use Phelps pot smoking for free publicity should be terminated as this decission will bite them. I URGE ALL TO BOYCOTT ALL KELLOGS PRODUCTS untill they reinstate Phelps contract. And then the issue of marijuana needs to progress. For far too many years this substance has been classified with cocaine but the reality is that pot is not only not harmfull (unless driving while high) it has many benifits like reducing lung and brain tumors by 50%
(my bet is Ted Kennedy is smoking it now), helps tremendously with the nighttime agitation Alzheimers patients experience and is likely to prevent Alzheimers from developing in pot smokers as well as improve living skills when taken by alzheimer patients. Pot is also used or marinol (THC pill) for anorexia patients to increase eating as well as chemo patients for eating and nausia. Pot can also be grown and coverted to methanol for energy. If the government grew and sold pot in liquor stores they could pay off the national debt in less than 2 years. The fact that alcohol is legal while pot is not is just stupid but pot dealers are happy with this situation because they make all the money and pay no taxes. Pot smokers are not likely to be involved in accidents due to speeding because they are likely to be driving very slow. Pot smokers are mellow and not likely to be in bar fights or any fights, it is alcvohol consumption that causes car accidents and fights.
Smart PR move, my opinion is no. Some consumers, including myself, are boycotting all Kelloggs products. I am doing this because of recent items I have read about Kellogs. First and formost, Phelps. Kelloggs had nothing to say about Phelps DUI/DWI charge, but are up in smoke (bad pun) about a picture of him and a bong. What does that message send? It is ok to drink and drive but not to have a picture taken with a bong??? I say this because of the picture itself.
I do not see marijuana, Smoke in the bong, a lighter being used, or the bubbles that usually appear when smoking anything in a water pipe.
Phelps did not admit to smoking marijuana, only to apologize for "regrettable behavior".
For all we know it could have been something else. There lies the problem, we do not know, and neither does Kelloggs.
That reminds me of a saying I heard once:
It takes years to build up trust, but it only takes suspicion, not proof, to destroy it.
In this day and age of marijuana awareness, I see a lot of people ready to stand up and say "enough is enough".
Kelloggs, I hope to see you on that list of companies that may not make it through 2009.
Its a horrible PR move. Most of America is behind Phelps, not the outdated laws that were put on the books 70 years ago to make it easier to oppress minorities. This situation stinks but I wish Phelps would stop apologizing and go on the offensive. THAT would be a "good PR move"...
Well, I've smoked pot before so I guess I don't fit into the box when it comes to being a Kelloggs customer. I will no longer buy their products. I have sent them an email telling them so and urge everyone else who has ever gotten stoned to do the same.
I can't believe these "pot-heads" are trying to punish Kellogg for not wanting to pay to sponsor a doper. I wouldn't want my family looking up to a celebrity who does drugs.
@Brian
But you were ok with your family looking up to a celebrity that drinks and drives?
It is apparent that the majority of Americans believe that marijuana should be legal. Most people feel that the billions of tax dollars that's spent on fighting a substance that should be legal is not only upsetting but a complete violation of civil rights. It's a very sore topic knowing how much of our money is being wasted, then on top of it, Kellogg has to endorse this theft of tax dollars in the middle of an economic recession. It's one thing if our corrupt politicians benefit by stealing our money but Kellogg gains nothing but ridicule for supporting such corruption. I suppose Kellogg will sponsor Madoff now.
It is apparent that the majority of Americans believe that marijuana should be legal. Most people feel that the billions of tax dollars that's spent on fighting a substance that should be legal is not only upsetting but a complete violation of civil rights. It's a very sore topic knowing how much of our money is being wasted, then on top of it, Kellogg has to endorse this theft of tax dollars in the middle of an economic recession. It's one thing if our corrupt politicians benefit by stealing our money but Kellogg gains nothing but ridicule for supporting such corruption. I suppose Kellogg will sponsor Madoff now.
"Smart PR move"? Hardly. I am sure that Ms. De Souza has more PR experience than me, but the arrogance and stupidity of the Kellogg press release saying that they were not going to renew Phelps contract because he did not reflect the corporate image, is apparent even to this layman.
Every corporate public communication should be scrutinized, prior to release, for the potential effect it will have with the customer base.
Had they not released the statement, it is unlikely that any customers’ buy decisions would have been adversely impacted. The risk comes from making a statement. They could have just let his contract expire, no one would have thought anything about them not renewing because as the author points out, Olympic athletes almost never have their cereal box contract renewed.
By issuing the sanctimonious press release in an attempt to get free publicity at Phelps expense, they run the very large risk of alienating Phelps’ supporters. This should not be taken lightly since Phelps just happens to be a true American Hero and the most popular Olympic athlete in years. In addition to Phelps’ diehard fans, Kellogg also risks alienating the 100 million or so Americans that either smoke or have smoked marijuana. Any press release that has the potential to irritating close to 50% of the products’ consumers is probably not going have a positive effect on product sales.
The end result of this PR miscalculation will be the loss of millions of dollars in lost sales and stagnant inventory.
Dear Anna,
You are fired.
David Mackay, CEO
Kellogg Company
I'd like to boycott Kellogg's but I haven't bought any of their cereals in 40 years. My understanding is that the cardboard box that the cereal comes in is just as nutritious as the cereal itself. Remember the John Belushi skit years ago where he's pretending to be Bruce Jenner starting the morning with his bowl of "little chocolate donuts"? Kellog's has that same level of credibility.
I think Michael Phelps reflects a better image of this country than Kellogg's and all their worthless puffed-up empty calories.
Michael Phelps can do what he wants and smoke pot. Kelloggs can do what they want and drop him. I don't give a crap. I still eat Kelloggs cereal, appreciate the gesture and invest in the company. Go Kelloggs. The day I would sell or give pot to my kids is the day that I'll support all the freakin wackos saying they will boycott Kelloggs. Go ahead and boycott. I don't give a crap.
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