Celebrity Endorsements

well what you say is right but how do you know that magic johnson would never use rental equipment if he goes on a vacation he may rent a cottage in spain and rent the furniture to go with it he may not want to buy it, in the usa, maybe he would do the same, but behind all the reasons you mention is the fact that celebrities will endorse stuff they think is good, and the people are supposed to think will this magic says it's good then it should be good. just like when oprah got sued because she said beef red meat wasn't healthy because she was oprah and people will do what she says.

I have often weandered the very same thing. I think they think alot of people will use these products, just because a celebrity is the spokesperson for them.

Well money begets money and the rich become richer (at our expense) its as simple as that! Here in India every celebrity worth his/her salt endorses soft drinks (no not the diet versions)! Just imagine, loaded with fats and with no food values, that’s the last thing any sportsperson or actor would touch to their lips…yet they are there everywhere, all over the TV just for money, of course. Apart from that, there are spices and clothes (prêt) and mineral water and bikes and what not…its obvious that none of them use whatever they endorse so I never get influenced by them.

I think they use celebrities because they can get attention to their product. It helps for the celebrity to be able to varify that the product is a good one but that is not very often the case I am thinking. Yes, financial reward would be a big one. On both sides even. Diminish the celebrity? No, I think their 'people' wouldn't do it if they ever thought it would. I don't think it does the ones I have seen.

Celebrity endorsements are a win-win situation. First of all, I don't believe it has anything to do with money in most cases. Famous people all have one thing in common: They want to be famous. For many, especially the Magic Johnson type, they want their face in the public's eye. They're thinking it will lead to more exposure for their own causes, which often include larger acting roles and business driven to their own ventures. For the places like Rent-A-Center, even if it doesn't tremendously help immediately, it won't hurt at all. Most people do not believe that the Magic one has a by-the-week rental plan for his washing machine, but with Magic in the commercial, more TV stations will run it. More people will pay attention to it. People will talk about it. And if one day you need to rent something, you'll think, "Hey, what was that place Magic was promoting? Let's check that out." Voila, the second win. The only true thing that diminishes a celebrity is a lack of air time. There truly is no such thing as bad press if you're a celebrity. Even Mel Gibson, though he's been torn apart in recent weeks, is still a winner in celebrity land because people are talking about him.

Every time I see a celebrity endorse a product I immediately lose interest in that product. I don't believe they actually use these products so its just a PR thing really. But I find it very annoying really when companies use celebrities to endorse their products. I don't think it's logical. As for the status of the celebrity when endorsing the product, doesnt bother me as I think celebrities in general are a waste of time.. Being a celebrity is degrading enough in my eyes... so them doing endorsements doesnt really up or down their status to me...

I am always amazed when people do endorsements for things like this. But what really gets me is the celebs that do pitches asking for donations; like the Feed A Child program. If they kicked in a couple million they could end that situation real quick. I wonder if they ask for a paycheck for being in those types of commercials. I guess you have to stop and ask, "When is enough enough?" At what point do you have enough money? Just look at Madonna and her power when it came to adopting a child. If she didn't have the fame and money, she would have never gotten the adoption to go through so quickly. I have no problem with celebs making money or doing endorsements but you hit the nail on the head with MJ. Can you see him walking in there every week to make his payment? This was a great post .. hope you get a lot of replies

I agree as well. It must be the money. I would imagine that 90% of celebrities don't use the products they endorse.

There are two types of celebrity endorsements, those of companies which pay a celebrity to say "oh this brand is so good" and then the one where the celebrity makes the brand, or at least has input into it. I hate the first type, where celebrities will say that anything is good just to make money, but then again if the celebrity actually uses the product and actually thinks it is good then that is fine eg Kate Moss and Rimmel, because she has been known to wear that particular brand, therefore she must actually like it. The second type is okay, as it makes sense for someone to promote their own range, celebrity or not. However it annoys me when a celebrity perfume is £10 more expensive than another perfume just because it has their name on it and not because it is £10 better smelling.