Michael Phelps New Subway Ad: "Be Yourself" (VIDEO)

Michael Phelps' marijuana flap has not diminished his commercial viability, if the latest Subway ad is any indication. The sandwich company stuck by Phelps even as other companies such as Kellogg's immediately moved to drop the Olympic champion after photographs of him hitting a bong became a media sensation, and now Subway is rolling out a new spot featuring Phelps entitled, maybe a touch ironically, "Be Yourself."

The AP argues that the Subway ad campaign "proves that Phelps' popularity as an endorser survived the publication of a photo showing him inhaling from a marijuana pipe last February."

The Los Angeles Times' Dan Neil writes that Phelps' accomplishments "mock the moral hysteria that traditionally rains down on marijuana" and that Phelps' appearance in the ad campaign shows that the public's view on weed has clearly changed.

Culture deconstructionists will pick the spot apart for oblique references to the scandal. Phelps' chin whiskers are kind of bro-ish, for instance. He does look a trifle baked (could be the chlorine). AdWeek's Eleftheria Parpis wrote that "you can almost hear all the blunts lighting up in support as Sly & The Family Stone's 'Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)' kicks in."

And it really is too bad that the sandwich franchise's website is subwayfreshbuzz.com.

Even so, the Phelps-bong scandal seems to have been safely put to bed, and now that it has, it's worth asking, what have we learned? The consequences to Phelps -- actually, the lack of consequences -- suggest that something bigger than mere endorsement dollars is in play. It seems Phelps has moved the weed needle.

Comments

[mcarlsonus]

Grab it while you can, Michael! DESPITE the weed, you were so overexposed, your 15 minutes were up long before!

[pachel]

I cant identify the face he is making in that photo,

what does that mean?

[Patrick McCarthy]

Sure, this is a good indication of a sea-change in public perception reagrding weed. Still, i think his apology amounted to a missed opportunity. He could have shown some real cajones and been a pioneer in this regard if instead of apologizing he had said "Yeah, I smoke weed" and then maybe explained why. (i.e. helps me deal with dyslexia, calms my nerves, opens the doors of my perception, acts as a bronchiodialator so that I can train for longer periods of time etc.) He's still a kid though, and as such can be forgiven for balking at the pressure.

[FreedomAgain]

I will be headed to Subway for lunch.

[blimie]

Love Michael. Good commercial. Yes, I will buy Subway this week.

[delta7777]

.
LUV YA MICHAEL !!

LUV THE MESSAGE

(not that into Subway though, or other fast food for that matter)
.

[ChiProgressive]

I'm sure he is great guy, but the dude has a face more suited to radio.

[truthartbeauty]

seems to be a really great regular guy but with a lot of accomplishments. so what he smoked a bong? who hasn't?

[RavenWest]

when's the last time anyone got a "buzz" from marijuana?

[Nicon]

Mr Phelps:
When you feel like the only person caught smoking the bong lately, and reporters just wont get over the fact that the Bong is safer than the Beer, just think of all these other folks who have been at one time or another in your shoes.

http://www.veryimportantpotheads.com/

Yes we Cannabis.

[Bcasey11]

we love you American hero, you know else liked to puff the reefer, the founding fathers and they are American heros.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zeeO-yna1I

[gle helle]

Michael, why the long face?

[mykebee]

Smoke a doobie and munchie down a meatball sub or two....Ya can't get any more All American than that!

[jsgaetano]

Phelps looks like some creepy dude who hangs out around playgrounds handing out candy.

[MaxCohen]

Phelps is the all time greatest olympic athlete, if anyone deserves to get a little baked its him, geez.
If anyone has a problem with him smoking but wouldnt bat an eyelash if they saw him with a cocktail needs to get there priorities straight and roll up a nice joint of common sense.