Super-swimmer Michael Phelps returned to big-time advertising Sunday with a TV spot for Subway titled “Be Yourself.” Oh, the irony.
Surely Phelps — 14-time Olympic gold medalist and endorsement juggernaut — was being only himself, only human, when he was photographed in November hitting a bong at a party at the University of South Carolina. That photograph, first published by the British tabloid News of the World in January, resulted in a three-month competition ban and cost Phelps a reported $500,000 deal with Kellogg. The swimmer promptly issued a sniveling apology, copping to “regrettable,” “inappropriate” and “youthful” behavior (doesn’t the latter want to excuse the former?). Phelps, 24, has more or less cheerfully dined on PR ashes ever since, in interviews with Matt Lauer, among others.
Michael Phelps Back in Adverts
