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10 Insane Celebrity Endorsements That Companies Hope We've Forgotten About
People like feeling connected to their favorite celebrities, which has lead to these celebs doing anything they can to make themselves look "relatable." This often means they'll lend their likeness to ads for popular brands, which almost always seems to drive up sales for those lucky companies that score the chance. However, in the case of these 10 endorsements, we're pretty sure they were more off-putting than anything.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen: Aqua Fresh Toothpaste
The dynamic duo that defined entertainment for girls throughout the 90s lent their likenesses to a ton of merchandise that made total sense, but we never did understand what it was about them that made Aqua Fresh think they'd sell toothpaste? I mean, I'm pretty sure most kids hate brushing their teeth no matter who's on the tube...
Hulk Hogan: Pastamania
Hulkamania was at its absolute zenith when this ad came out, and while as kids we definitely all rushed out to get some cheap fast-food pasta, in retrospect, this ad is pretty hilariously bad. Oh Hulkster, we couldn't wait to see what other shenanigans you'd get into next...
The Flintstones: Winston Cigarettes
In one of the most telling relics of a bygone era, advertisers in the 50s and 60s had no qualms whatsoever about advertising a pretty dangerous product to kids, even as signs of issues from smoking cigarettes were already starting to become better known. Even Fred Flintstone got in on the action, and while it was silly and quaint at the time, it's now pretty horrifying.
Fabio: I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!
Because Fabio definitely kept that stunning physique up by chowing down on an artificial butter replacement that people are still arguing about the possible issues with to this day? Right...
The promotions just get stranger from here...
Brad Pitt: Pringles
Every career has to start somewhere, even for a Hollywood superstar like Brad Pitt. The man who stole our attention in movies like Fight Club and Ocean's Eleven had a long way to the top, and nothing is more reflective of that than the Pringles commercial he appeared in.
Madonna: Pepsi
On paper this was a great idea: getting the world's biggest pop sensation to promote one of the world's biggest soft drinks. However, the ad was recalled a day after it came out, as Madonna chose to release her music video for the song, which featured imagery like burning crosses and plenty of sexual implications.
Muhammad Ali: D-Con Roach Traps
Because nothing says "greatest boxer of all time" quite like telling people how great a series of roach traps are. Muhammad, did you really need the money that badly?
Bob Dylan: Victoria's Secret
I'm not exactly sure what Bob Dylan is doing in this frankly eerie ad for the most famous lingerie brand in the world, but what I do know is that I'm pretty sure it'd be far less creepy if he wasn't ogling the models in it. Just saying.
Mikhail Gorbachev: Pizza Hut
No, you're not seeing things. That is one of the most prolific figures from the Cold War, a man who single-handedly spearheaded relations between the West and the Soviet Union for years, appearing with his granddaughter in an ad for Pizza Hut. WTF?!
Joe Namath: Hanes Pantyhose
An NFL legend sells pantyhose by showing off just how good they make his legs look. I mean... he's not wrong, but still, this is kinda strange.