Some of the greatest athletes in the world endorse some of the unhealthiest foods in the world. And a recent study shows that these celebrity athlete-endorsed ads may be more prevalent than you think.
But we're not here to talk about the evils of brainwashing children with superstars — we will leave that to chef Jamie Oliver, who often rants about the subject.
What we are here to look at is just how goofy these ads can get when they associate incredibly fit people with intensely sugary and fatty products.
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Most athletes happen to be terrible actors, and the ones who aren't bad (Peyton Manning, actually, is the only one who comes to mind) are forced to read awful lines, anyway.
Sports drink giants Gatorade and Powerade make products that are basically sugar, water, and sodium, but they're actually not unhealthy when associated with exercise — and both brands have had cool commercials.
As for Red Bull, well, no one really argues that energy drinks are healthy, but Red Bull runs events that fit the brand's image, and with high production values, to boot. It put a guy in space and had him plummet to Earth! So we'll let it slide, too.
We will check out some corny ads and promotions that will make you wonder how the partnerships ever started in the first place.
You will notice some repeated faces. The report we referred to earlier, from the American Academy of Pediatrics lists LeBron James, Serena Williams, Peyton Manning, Tony Stewart, and Apollo Ohno among the top ten athletes associated with the most food brands with low nutritional content.
Oreo
Oreo deserves some credit for its athlete endorsements, because at least a fast food chain or sports drink can make the pitch that they have some healthy options available.
And what's even more daring is the Nabisco brand used its roster — which included Venus and Serena Williams, Eli and Peyton Manning, Apollo Ohno, and Shaquille O'Neal — to sell its most unhealthy treats, like the ungodly Triple Double Oreo.
Watch the Williams sisters coach a team to victory against the Manning brothers in a bizarre Double Stuf Oreo licking contest. It's pretty incredible:
Papa John's
When Peyton Manning joined the Denver Broncos in 2012, he decided to buy 21 Papa John's franchises in Colorado. Now, there's not an NFL game that goes by that isn't inundated with commercials starring both Manning and Papa John himself, John Schnatter.
And other athletes have noticed, too — in a game against the Broncos in September, the Philadelphia Eagles defense yelled "Papa John, Papa John!" to distract Manning as he called an audible.
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