The Kardashian Card
As if the market isn't already inundated with Kardashian endorsed products, the reality TV stars teamed up with Mastercard to create a line of credit that was marketed for teenagers. You know, because the Kardashians are models of financial responsibility.
Jerry Seinfeld for Microsoft
Apparently Bill Gates was a huge Seinfeld fan, but the rest of the country wasn't so fond of the awkward commercials Jerry did for Microsoft--which befuddlingly enough didn't say much about the company's newest (and arguably worst) software release for Vista. Both the commercial and the product tanked.
Rachel Ray for Dunkin Donuts
Who knew a scarf could cause such a stir? Doughnut-maker Dunkin Donuts pulled this ad featuring TV chef Rachel Ray after a fury of complaints that the scarf shown in the commercials was the same as that worn by Yassir Arafat and that the star was thereby supporting Muslim extremism and terrorism. Yeah, we think this is stupid, too.
Paris Hilton for Hardee's/Carl Jr.'s
This ad for the new Spicy BBQ $6 burger at fast food chain Hardee's/Carl Jr.'s featured socialite Paris Hilton, who has nothing to do with food or the Bentley she's washing in the ad, but everything to do with the fact that the commercial was shot almost like a soft-core porn.
Madonna for Pepsi
Pepsi probably should have asked to see Madonna's as-yet unreleased music video for "Like a Prayer" before they decided to use the song in their $5 million endorsement deal with the singer in 1989. When the video came out a week later with scenes of the Pop star getting racy with a priest and showing signs of stigmata, Pepsi quickly pulled their ad.
Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino - for anything but A & F
The Situation seems to love Abercrombie & Fitch, but the brand was less than enthused to see the Jersey Shore star decked out in their wares while he was drinking, "smushing," and generally douchebagging his way through each episode of the MTV series. Instead of paying him to endorse their brand, the company offered him a "large sum" to wear anything but A & F in what could be the most amusing case of paid un-endorsement in history.
Kobe Bryant
McDonald's, Nutella, and Sprite all wanted to cash in on the Kobe Bryant bandwagon ... until the NBA star was charged with sexual assault. Needless to say, neither of these brands were lovin' it anymore, and they all terminated their contracts with Bryant.
Tiger Woods for Buick
What does Tiger Woods have to do with cars? And why was he driving a Buick when we all know the man had enough money for a Bentley - or five.
Michael Jackson for Pepsi
Pepsi's endorsement deal with Michael Jackson went up in flames in 1984--along with the Prince of Pop's hair and scalp--when the pyrotechnics got a little out of control during the commercial's shooting. Pepsi lost their endorsement and settled the resulting lawsuit for $1.5 million.
Hulk Hogan Ultimate Grill
Not only did George Foreman already beat former WWF champ Hulk Hogan to the grilling empire years ago, but Hulk's grill was recalled because it tended to catch fire when used with cooking sprays and oils. Because no one uses those anymore.
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