Wayne Rooney and the Worst Celebrity Adverts

While most people quickly reach for the remote when adverts come on TV, millions flock to YouTube every day to watch them. It could be argued that viral advertising has hit saturation point, with a lot of the same ideas being used over and over again.

When sport stars get involved, it usually involves super-human feats being performed with casual ease. Famous sports virals include Ronaldinho hammering consecutives volleys against the crossbar, Federer’s William Tell impersonation, and Beckham chipping footballs into bins 60 yards away; most of which are clearly made possible by in-camera trickery or post-production magic. The debate over the authenticity only adds to the viral effect.

The latest advert to go viral featuring a sports star is actually for the very different reasons. Wayne Rooney’s advert for Manchester United’s official wine partner is being widely touted as one of the worst of all time. Rooney’s wooden delivery and dramatic chin stroke, make under fire co-star Ryan Giggs, look like Marlon Brando at the height of his powers in comparison.

Here’s a look at some other celebrity-endorsed adverts that the stars would like to forget.

Duffy – Diet Coke

Back in 2008 Duffy was one of the biggest music stars in the world, with her debut album Rockferry selling over 4.5 million copies worldwide. Then in 2009 this Diet Coke advert came along. Her follow-up album charted and sold badly, and she is currently on an extended hiatus from music. While the advert cannot take full blame for such a fall from glory, critics believe it was definitely a contributing factor.

Tim Lovejoy – Giovanni Rana

Industry experts voted this as the “worst celebrity advert of the year” in 2010, a prize which Rooney is likely to be picking up shortly.

Jason Alexander – McDLT

Before Jason Alexander struck fame as George Constanza in Seinfeld, he was a regular on the US commercial circuit. Here we see a pre-Seinfeld Alexander prancing around and singing about the short lived McDLT, with a group of pastel-wearing flunkies. I have to say I still prefer it to McDonald’s use of terrible advert poetry that is currently everywhere at the moment.

Daft Punk – Gap

When it comes to music celebrity endorsements, Daft Punk usually seem to get it spot on (Tron: Legacy, Adidas Originals, DJ Hero and Daft Coke). One endorsement that didn’t do their image any good was their denim-clad appearance in a Gap advert alongside Juliet Lewis. As the T-800 would attest, robots should definitely stick to leather.

Flintstones – Winston Cigarettes

It’s almost hard to believe that a children’s cartoon would have been allowed to promote cigarettes even back in the 60s. Even Don Draper wouldn’t have sunk that low.

Mr. T – Flavor Wave Oven Turbo

Mr T. has been used to great post-modern effect in adverts for World of Warcraft and Snickers, but the same can’t be said for his commercial for the superbly named Flavor Wave Oven Turbo.

Hollywood Stars & Japanese Commercials

In the past celebrities have been easy going about promoting products in foreign markets. Maybe they felt that their image back in Hollywood wouldn’t be affected as nobody would get to see them apart from on clips shows presented by Chris Tarrant. But thanks to YouTube there is no escaping a dodgy advert appearance in far-away lands these days.
Here’s a collection some of the most bizarre commercials starring Hollywood’s finest. Unsurprisingly all are from Japan, the land of whacky celebrity endorsement.

Nicolas Cage – Sankyo

In addition to appearing in about 40 movies a year, Nicolas Cage also has time to make regular advert appearances in Japan. Maybe the theory that Nicolas Cage is a vampire explains how he finds the time make all these films and adverts.

John Travolta – Tokyo Drink

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZdYpw8KzJQ&feature=player_embedded#!

If you could take a Kenny Loggins song and bottle it, I imagine it would probably taste like Tokyo Drink.

Hulk Hogan – Big Flow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDk5QOb1GRc&feature=player_embedded

Hulk Hogan famously turned down the chance to endorse the “Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine”, which has made George Foreman over £200 million to date. Somehow I don’t think the Hulk Hogan Big Flow is quite going to make up for that error in judgement.

Feel free to comment with your own suggestions for the worst celebrity advert.

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