Michael Phelps' Sponsors Sticking With Him After Bong Photo... UPDATE: Kellogg Dropping Phelps

***UPDATE Feb 5th, 6:34 pm***

Ad Age is reporting Thursday afternoon that Olympic champion Michael Phelps is being dropped by one of his sponsors over the now infamous photo of him smoking from a bong. Initially it appeared Phelps would be fortunate enough not to lose any of his lucrative sponsorships, and he received reassurance from both Speedo and Omega on Monday. But now his luck appears to be changing:

One bong hit seen around the world and Olympian Michael Phelps is watching at least one contract go up in smoke. Kellogg will let the swimmer's contract expire at the end of the month.

"We originally built the relationship with Michael, as well as the other Olympic athletes, to support our association with the U.S. Olympic team," a Kellogg spokeswoman said in a statement. "Michael's most recent behavior is not consistent with the image of Kellogg. His contract expires at the end of February and we have made a decision not to extend his contract."

Keep reading.

Read all about Michael Phelps' bong photo and the fallout.

AP, February 2nd:
Two of Michael Phelps' leading sponsors expressed support for the Olympic great Monday, a day after he apologized for being photographed in a British newspaper inhaling from a marijuana pipe. Luxury Swiss watchmaker Omega termed Phelps' actions a private matter and "nonissue." Swim wear manufacturer Speedo called the 23-year-old American a "valued member of the Speedo team."

Phelps acknowledged "regrettable" behavior and "bad judgment" after the photo appeared Sunday in the tabloid News of the World.

Speedo gave Phelps a $1 million bonus for his record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics. Phelps joined Speedo in 2001, a year after making his Olympic debut in Sydney. He dominated the Beijing Games in the company's high-tech LZR Racer suit.

"In light of Michael Phelps' statement yesterday, Speedo would like to make it clear that it does not condone such behavior and we know that Michael truly regrets his actions," Speedo, which is based in Nottingham, said in a statement to The Associated Press.

"Michael Phelps is a valued member of the Speedo team and a great champion. We will do all that we can to support him and his family."

Omega said it was "strongly committed" to its relationship with Phelps, calling his Beijing accomplishments "among the defining sporting achievements in the history of sport."

"The current story in the press involves Michael Phelps' private life and is, as far as Omega is concerned, a nonissue," the company said.

The News of the World said the picture was taken during a November house party while Phelps was visiting the University of South Carolina. Under World Anti-Doping Agency rules, an athlete is subject to sanctions only for a positive test during competition periods.

"Michael Phelps is a great Olympic champion," the International Olympic Committee said in a statement to the AP. "He apologized for his inappropriate behavior. We have no reason to doubt his sincerity and his commitment to continue to act as a role model."

Comments

[kristally]

08:27 AM on 02/12/2009

The arrangement with Phelps was a contract. Kellogg's is entitled to set the parameters of the contract, and in all sponsorship agreements there is a requirement that the sponsee abide by certain rules of conduct which, in the sole determination of the sponsor, fit the image of the company. Michael Phelps does not have a RIGHT to be sponsored - it is a privilege. Also of note is the fact that he did not have his contract terminated, it just was not renewed. Whether you agree with the law or not (I don't), he did break the law as it currently stands, and Kellogg's has every RIGHT to decide not to renew his contract for breaking the law (and presumably, breaching the contract). If the contract terms said that it would constitute a material breach if he wore green, for example, and he wore green, they would similarly have the RIGHT to terminate.

[gilraenn]

09:19 AM on 02/06/2009

Hello,

I am disappointed by your decision regarding Michael Phelps.


This decision highly judgemental of a 23 year old young man who gave his entire youth in pursuit of an Olympic dream.

He is lagging in some of his decisions, but he did not have the luxury of making these kind of mistakes while in his teens (which usually kids do and now even younger), getting past it and done within the privacy of his home.

This young man was harassed in school, and yearned to be part of the group. He can enjohy his life apart from the grueling schedule he has maintained over the years to reach his swimming goals, and to give Americans something to be proud of; in a time, when we needed it the most.

The Kellogg company is not the bastion of integrity either; with its corporation or its products. There is still way to much sugar in your cereals to be any good for young children.

How about your corporate lapses? "What could have prompted Kellogg's to take one of the most toxic heavy metals known to mankind and intentionally place it inside boxes of childrens' breakfast cereal? Insanity, perhaps. Or, more accurately, utter disregard for the health of their customers.
Even worse, Kellogg's has refused to pull the boxes from store shelves in Maine. Why? Because there's no law against it in Maine! "

I will not buy your products anymore.
Michael Phelps has apologized for his indiscretion - enough said.
Gilraenn

[gnewman]

08:20 PM on 02/05/2009

I don't see why pot and corn flakes are mutually exclusive, besides we know ther real reason for this whole scandal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpxB6urF-5c

[ilovevegas]

07:58 PM on 02/05/2009

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING! Leave him alone

[gifu]

07:47 PM on 02/05/2009

Kellogg's cereal?? The sugar in many of your cereals is responsible for so many negatives. Same as the mono-crop mentality that allows the corn in your "flakes" to hold our domestic agricultural system hostage while further negating the nutritional benefit of both humans and animals. Sugar alone was the root cause of the African American slave trade, modern day obesity rates, and on and on and on. How sanctimonious of your corporate self. Long live locally grown and harvested bong hits and the Americans who choose to indulge in them.

[laxfamily]

07:38 PM on 02/05/2009

If a 13-time gold winner can't smoke pot, who can?

[bryand1]

07:38 PM on 02/05/2009

I will go out of my way to not buy anything Kellogg's....this media hypocrisy is a joke. Smoking pot is an American pastime and just because a spotlight seeking south carolina sheriff doesn't like it - well, it's none of his business. And the height of grotesque is seeing a clip of Elizabeth Hasslebeck railing against it - mind your own business, folks, he's unwinding. What he does in his own time is his own business...just because you're famous and have endorsements doesn't mean they own you. Phelps is an American hero and he'll stay that way in my mind, bongs away!

[Feanor]

07:37 PM on 02/05/2009

I'm dropping Kellogg's...

[Fraugher]

07:32 PM on 02/05/2009

Kellogg's wanted to drop anyway, due to economy, this just gives them a chance to appear moral...

[Jack Carbone]

07:27 PM on 02/05/2009

Screw Kellogg's.

[harrymellon]

07:27 PM on 02/05/2009

Ok...Im dropping Kellogs. I refuse to buy any of their products now and many people I know will BOYCOTT KELLOGS also. They have no idea how many pot smokers used to buy their products. Its weed smokers who get the munchies, duh!

[QueenOfViolets]

07:25 PM on 02/05/2009

The only Kellogg's cereal in my pantry is Frosted Mini-Wheats.

They have too much sugar anyways. It'll be good for me to stop eating that nasty stuff.

I'll get my husband an Omega watch for his birthday. He already wears Speedo. He's a swimmer too.

[Rubyfoo]

07:24 PM on 02/05/2009

Well he was imbibing the Breakfast of Champions. What's their problem?

[marinade]

07:23 PM on 02/05/2009

I don't see anything in the article about Kelloggs. Just in the headline. Anybody else?

[GOPScaresMe]

07:19 PM on 02/05/2009

Funny, if he were caught on film drinking to the point of throwing up in someone's front yard, nobody would care, they'd just say he was "celebrating". The guy gets caught doing a bong hit and all of a sudden he's the sign of everything wrong with this country? Get over yourselves, you hypocrites. Look at the statistics of how many drunk drivers kill people or how many people drink and get abusive and hurt someone vs. how many people smoke pot and end up hurting someone. I'd rather be sharing the road with a pot smoker than a drunk. If we want to help the economy, legalize the stuff already and tax the dickens out of it - less money wasted on the "war on drugs" and on people locked up in prison on ridiculous possession charges when there are so many bigger battles to fight. I'm not in the market for a Speedo or an Omega but this wouldn't stop me from buying either, but I may reconsider my choice of frozen waffles from now on.

[Village]

07:28 PM on 02/05/2009

He got a DUI four years ago. No biggie.

One puff? He's the boggie man.

[kristally]

07:51 AM on 02/13/2009

He already has a DUI