WHEN someone is watching TV, most of it consists of commercials, despite being able to fast forward through most of them.
Most of those ads consist of celebrities promoting a product from makeup to a weight loss program and more.
Sometimes celebrities aren’t in a commercial on TV, and instead prompt a product on their social media page.
Recently, model Bella Hadid faced backlash for an Adidas ad she took part in.
From caption fails to sending the wrong message, here are seven times celebrities failed their ad campaigns.
BELLA HADID – ADIDAS
Bella has been caught in a controversy after posing for an Adidas ad.
The company was revising its campaign with the Palestinian-American model.
The ad promoted a vintage shoe, SL72, to honor the 1972 Munich Olympics.
This was where a Palestinian militant group captured 11 Israeli athletes and coaches and a German police officer during the game.
Adidas issued an apology on their Instagram Story on July 22.
Kardashian promotions that got backlash from Kylie Jenner ‘cosplaying poor’ for Sprinter to Kourtney ‘lying’ for Lemme
“Connections continue to be made to the terrible tragedy that occurred at the Munich Olympics due to our recent SL72 campaign. These connections are not meant and we apologize for any upset or distress caused to communities around the world. We made an unintentional mistake,” they wrote.
“We also apologize to our partners, Bella Hadid, A$AP Nast, Jules Koundé, and others, for any negative impact on them and we are revising the campaign.”
The company has since taken down the ad on their social media pages.
The Israel-Hamas War is currently ongoing.
Read more on Kendall Jenner
Kendall Jenner is the eldest of Kris and Caitlyn Jenner’s daughters and part of the Kardashian sisters. Kendall became a supermodel and regularly collaborates with her younger sister Kylie on Kylie Cosmetics. In 2021, Kendall launched her own tequila line: 818
Bella, 27, posed in a soccer uniform and sneakers while holding a bouquet of flowers.
The model kneeled in front of a red background.
KENDALL JENNER- PEPSI
In 2017, Kendall Jenner starred in an ad for Pepsi.
The commercial was pulled shortly after it aired.
Kendall, 21 at the time, joined a group of people protesting with various signs.
She was being photographed in a sparkly dress when she saw the protesters march by.
The model decided to strip off her wig and fancy clothes and join the group in the streets.
Kendall grabbed a Pepsi and pushed to the front of the line.
She walked over to a police officer and offered him the can.
He drank it and the crowd cheered.
Many viewers took it as mocking the Black Lives Matter movement, which had a lot of protests during that time.
The company issued an apology after taking down the ad.
“Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding. Clearly we missed the mark, and we apologize,” they said in a statement.
“We did not intend to make light of any serious issue. We are removing the content and halting any further rollout. We also apologize for putting Kendall Jenner in this position.”
KENDALL JENNER – 818 TEQUILLA
Kendall, 28, was involved in another controversial ad while promoting her tequila brand, 818, in 2021.
She was criticized for cultural appropriation because she wore an outfit and hairstyle that is associated with Mexican culture, in the video.
Kendall rode on a horse through an agave farm in Jalisco, Mexico.
The model had her hair in pigtail braids while she shared her liquor with native farmers.
SCOTT DISICK- BOOTEA
In 2016, Scott Disick majorly failed when he copied and pasted instructions into his Instagram caption.
The reality star posed with a container of the weight loss shake, Bootea.
He stood in front of his fridge with a serious face as the container sat on the counter.
But, the part that had fans shaking their heads was the caption.
“Here you go, at 4pm est, write the below. Caption: Keeping up with the summer workout routine with my morning @booteauk,” he wrote.
Scott quickly corrected his error and deleted the first part of the caption.
ASHTON KUTCHER – POPCHIPS
In 2012, Ashton Kutcher starred in an ad for Popchips.
In the commercial, he portrayed different members of a dating app.
One of the characters was a Bollywood producer named Raj.
The actor’s face was painted darker and he used an Indian accent.
“The new Popchips worldwide dating video and ad campaign featuring four characters was created to provoke a few laughs and was never intended to stereotype or offend anyone,” Popchips said in a statement.
“At Popchips we embrace all types of shapes, flavors and colors, and appreciate all snackers, no matter their race or ethnicity. We hope people can enjoy this in the spirit it was intended.”
The ad still exists on the company’s YouTube page.
MIKE ‘THE SITUATION’ SORRENTINO – ABERCROMBIE & FITCH
Jersey Shore star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino wasn’t necessarily advertising for clothing brand, Abercrombie & Fitch when he wore their clothes in 2012.
They offered the reality TV star a “substantial sum” to not wear their clothes, according to The Guardian.
He was known for flashing the A&F logo on his underwear, which stuck out of his shorts when he wasn’t wearing a shirt.
Abercrombie & Fitch said that while Jersey Shore is entertainment, they were afraid their customers would be deterred from buying their clothes if they were associated with Mike.
“We are deeply concerned that Mr Sorrentino’s association with our brand could cause significant damage to our image,” a spokesperson for the company said.
“We have therefore offered a substantial payment to Michael ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino and the producers of MTV’s Jersey Shore to have the character wear an alternate brand. We have also extended this offer to other members of the cast, and are urgently waiting a response.”
KIM KARDASHIAN – SKIMS
In 2019, Kim Kardashian launched her shapewear what fans know today as Skims.
However, before it was called that, the Hulu star named it Kimono.
“Finally, I can share with you guys this project I have been developing for the last year,” she wrote on X.
“I’ve been passionate about this for 15 years.”
“Kimono is my take on shapewear for women that actually work,” she ended.
However, Kim was criticized for appropriating the name of traditional Japanese clothing.
“Nice underwear, but as a Japanese woman who loves to wear our traditional dress, kimono, I find the naming of your products baffling (since it has no resemblance to kimono), if not outright culturally offensive, especially if it’s merely a wordplay on your name. Pls reconsider,” one X user wrote.
The Mayor of Kyoto, Daisaku Kadokawa, even wrote Kim a letter asking her to change the name.
She stood by her decision at first but then changed the name to Skims a few days later.
KIM KARDASHIAN – SKIMS AGAIN
In 2022, Kim also faced backlash when she launched her Skims “Fit Everybody” line.
She posted photos of herself along with four former Victoria’s Secret models – Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum, Candice Swanepoel, and Alessandra Ambrosio.
Fans slammed Kim in the comments for using models when the line was supposed to be size-inclusive.
“I’m just a little confused by saying this fits everybody but these are all supermodels who are thin,” a fan wrote.
