Vikings RB Adrian Peterson has "lost one of his most significant endorsement deals over child abuse allegations," according to Wallace & Isidore of CNN MONEY. BP Lubricants Communications Manager Paul Giblett said BP's Castrol brand has "decided to end" its relationship with Peterson. Castrol is a "major producer of motor oil and is owned by BP." Castrol used Peterson in commercials for its "Edge performance oil product and on social media." But many recent social media posts of his likeness "had been pulled down, and the commercials were no longer available on YouTube" (CNN.com, 9/16). ESPN's Darren Rovell reports Nike also has "suspended its endorsement contract" with Peterson. The company in a statement said, "Nike in no way condones child abuse or domestic violence of any kind and has shared our concerns with the NFL" (TWITTER.com, 9/17). In Minneapolis, Jim Hammerand reported Twin Cities-based Nike stores "pulled Peterson jerseys from their racks Tuesday." Wheaties also "scrubbed Peterson from its website" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/16).
FOUNDATION ON HIATUS: ESPN.com's Lavigne & Rovell noted Peterson's All Day Foundation was "placed on 'hiatus,' its website cleared and Facebook page deactivated on Tuesday after some charities it supports received questions about being affiliated" with Peterson. Peterson's philanthropy adviser, Bruce Richman, said that the website and Facebook page "were deactivated to protect the charities affiliated with Peterson and prevent them from being harassed." Special Olympics Minnesota, which "announced a partnership with Peterson a few weeks ago, acknowledged that it has pulled away from the NFL star" (ESPN.com, 9/16).
KEEPING ABREAST OF THE SITUATION: In Minneapolis, Mike Kaszuba in a front-page piece notes several of the Vikings’ corporate sponsors "issued only tepid support for the team and Peterson following the announcement that Radisson, the Minnesota-based hotel chain, was suspending its corporate sponsorship." A spokesperson for U.S. Bank, the official hometown bank of the Vikings, in a statement said the company was “monitoring the situation closely.” Univ. of Minnesota Health also said yesterday it was “evaluating the situation related to the Vikings sponsorship." The Minnesota National Guard, whose logo is "displayed on the scoreboard and elsewhere in the stadium during games, said through a spokesman it 'intends to continue our in-stadium advertising contract' with the team." But there were "signs that the issue was continuing to create corporate angst" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/17). The AP's Jon Krawczynski noted after Radisson suspended its sponsorship, Papa John's "considered doing the same" (AP, 9/16). Meanwhile, ESPN's Ben Goessling notes for the Vikings "to come out as strongly as they did stating they will keep Peterson on the field and to have Radisson come out hours later, that sent a clear message." Goessling: "When you have people who have financial interest into this team say, ‘We don’t like the way this is operating,’ then that carries a lot of weight” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 9/17).
NO CHANGES WITH PANTHERS' SPONSORS: In Charlotte, Spanberg & O'Daniel reported none of the Panthers' "major backers" have made a sponsorship change following the Greg Hardy domestic abuse case. Harris Teeter Communications Manager Danna Jones said the grocery chain "remains a sponsor ... but continues to follow this story closely." Panthers Chief Revenue Officer Phil Youtsey said, "We are in constant contact with our sponsors and their partnership with us. We’ve worked hard to develop strong relationships over the years with our sponsors and they remain fully intact" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/16).
