phelps dropped by kellogg (organization, company, interest, media)

[Bill Keegan]

Who cares that marijuana may or may not be harmfu to a person? It's irellevant to the issue of whether Kellogs should keep him on the box, and pay him millions of dollars. THey have a particular image they want to promote, becasue it helps them to sell their products. Healthy medal winning olympic athletes ARE part of that image, and they wantted Phelps to continue in that manner. They paid him millions of dollars to uphold that image, so they could sell their prduct. They wanted people to associate him & his accomplishments with their cereal. Marijuana DOES NOT fit into the image they want to project. They no longer want him to be associated with their product because he did something they feel is contrary to their goal.
Look at it this way. Pretend it was a bowl of Cheerios he was photographed with. Nothing illegal about it. But clearly NOT something they want associated with their product, as Cheerios are made by General Mills. So, they would have dumped him. That's all this is. They don't want to pay someone who projects an image they feel is unhelpful to sales of their product. Next.

[texdav]

Basically ;he is in a different poisition than we are and was picked for the commericals to represent them .In that position were you are a spokeman he should have known better from those in the past that made the same mistake. Boycotting a company because of his stupid mistake is crazy IMO.

[freedom]

Originally Posted by charolastra00

Obesity is a bigger problem for this country. There is nothing healthy in the cereals Kellogs markets to children.

I'm sorry that your father is irresponsible. However, the more productive and intelligent people that I know have been occasional smokers. Amsterdam seems to be doing fine. Phelps obviously is nowhere near the level of your father. I can't see anything wrong with smoking a few times a month, honestly.

If by fine you mean it is increasing its laws against drug use and dope cafe's you may be correct.

Drug laws change in Netherlands - News

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by freedom

If by fine you mean it is increasing its laws against drug use and dope cafe's you may be correct.

Drug laws change in Netherlands - News

If the Netherlands will turn into a right wing paradise like every other country, why should anyone even plan a vacation there? To change their drug laws over one volatile person is really sad. there will always be irresponsible ppl in the world. it is no reason to punish the responsible majority who use recreational drugs wisely.

[Oildog]

Sign of the times in PC America. On one hand it goes with the territory. If you are a star athlete, you will be idolized by many, like it or not. Companies will give you big money to represent their products with your 'favorable' image...or image the company wants to be associated with. Maybe this is an opportunity to get a bigger endorsement from Frito Lay or Taco Bell.

[mrpeatie]

I'll bet money that their was an ethics clause in Phelps' endorsement contract. While I agree that the DUI was more troubling- when you bank the kind of money he did you at least should have the decency to hire a cab and not use a bong in the middle of a 100 person college party. If he had done so in a private setting none of this would have occurred.

Also- in this job market, it shows that everyone should expect to hold the line on out of office conduct that will embarass the boss. A good friend recently had an employee call in sick for a long, pre-scheduled employee meeting. The employee then posted about their love for roommates, bear pong, etc on their Myspace page the same night. That went over particularly well with coworkers who had to arrange child care, were not actually working from the building for the main part of the work day and had to endure a tedious but necessary meeting. Having a private life is one thing- flaunting it an employers face is another entirely.

[Basekamp]

I am not saying smoking weed is ok, I am saying live and let live, if it's not your business leave it alone. Kellogg took a major risk on this one I'm afraid, and they know it. I am even fairly convinced that some of the posts on this thread are kellogg web marketers. If Phelps hadn't apologized and laid off of it, I could understand what happened a bit more...

[Katsmeeyow]

Honestly? I really think he was just young and dumb. He got caught in the act. It doesn't take away his achievements, nor should it. However, (there is always a however, isn't there?) Any company has the right to pull sponsorship should they feel so inclined. Think about it. I bet they themselves wondered what should be done. They want to advertise their product to the widest market available. Apparently they went with the more conservative approach. I do feel bad for him. Oh come on!!!!!!!! How many of us - at his age - could cope with the all the fame, fortune, stress, whatever? He got caught. He is paying the price. But, you know what would be priceless? If they were to embrace his mistake - either in the sense of "giving a second chance" or humorously. I personally (my own personal thoughts on this) would love to see something other than the concept of the "shame" and "doom" of this. It is NOT the end of the world for this young man, and wouldn't our youth benefit more if they saw a more "realistic" scenario of a young guy making a mistake, than from just seeing the stereotypical reaction to this? And before anyone says "deeds that go unpunished, et al...." I feel the worldwide knowledge of this is more than enough punishment for his "bong hit". Every comedian is having a freaking field day with this. He has gone from being famous, to being infamous, virtually overnight.

A little compassion, folks?

[goodbyehollywood]

Originally Posted by mrpeatie

I'll bet money that their was an ethics clause in Phelps' endorsement contract.

Bingo! I'm sure they didn't want to fire him from a personal standpoint, but from a marketing standpoint they did exactly what they had to do. You have to enforce morals clauses in celebrity contracts when the product is marketed to youth.

He made a mistake and I'm sure most people understand that and are both compassionate and sympathetic. But you don't pay role models millions to publicly do drugs when you're selling a squeaky clean image.

[siobhandem]

Kelloggs = Anti-Marijuana, Pro-Salmonella Death

The Young Turks: kelloggs= very anti marijuana, very pro- salmonella death

"Apparently the Kelloggs company feels that being a sponsor for Michael Phelps is too publically damaging and have decided to drop him. When i heard this story a little bulb turned on in my brain, and i vaguely recalled reading a story about Kelloggs on Huffpo not too long ago. So i searched the site and sure enough i found this.

"'So far, more than 470 people have gotten sick in 43 states, and at least 90 had to be hospitalized. At least six deaths are being blamed on the outbreak.'

"See that? People have died from eating tainted Kelloggs products. Is Kelloggs going to forever drop the peanut butter company that they bought the tainted materials from? I have no idea, but I kinda doubt it. Michael Phelps has GONE TO FAR!!! How dare he smoke an herb which has directly caused 0 recorded deaths in the entire history of its use!!!!!!!

"Isnt that crazy? Kelloggs own products have been the cause of more deaths than marijuana, and they have the nerve to drop Phelps for something he did on his own time in the safety of a friends place."