T-Mobile Pulls Barkley Spots Following Drunken Driving Arrest

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T-Mobile has "pulled its TV spots" starring TNT NBA studio analyst Charles Barkley following his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving, according to Jeremy Mullman of AD AGE. A T-Mobile spokesperson in a statement noted that the campaign with Barkley "has been successful, but 'given the recent developments, for the time being, we've replaced TV ads featuring Mr. Barkley with more general-market advertising.'" Mullman noted T-Mobile has "primarily featured Mr. Barkley in ads promoting its 'Fave 5' program," and one long-running storyline involves Heat G Dwyane Wade. The campaign also has been "integrated into TNT's 'Inside the NBA' broadcasts ... in the form of basketball-related top-five lists read on air" (ADAGE.com, 1/12). In San Jose, John Ryan writes the decision is a "very prudent move, because YouTube was just waiting for a parody combining those ads with his DUI arrest and the woman he was on his way to see" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/14).