Procter & Gamble has "pulled out of a major initiative with the NFL in light of recent off-field events," according to sources cited by Jason La Canfora of CBSSPORTS.com. P&G and its Crest toothpaste brand had "worked with NFL approval to launch a significant, league-wide initiative for Breast Cancer Awareness Month" in October. But sources said that P&G "decided to cancel ... after taking into account recent domestic issues in the league." The campaign was to "involve multiple players on each of the NFL's 32 teams with one player from each team designated as official 'ambassadors' of the campaign." Players would have "worn pink mouthguards and engaged in social media." P&G notified the players that money earmarked to be donated to cancer charities as part of the campaign "would still be contributed, but the entire campaign has been pulled" (CBSSPORTS.com, 9/18).
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam said questions surrounding the NFL's handling of domestic violence ignore the “culture of denial” about the issue. McAdam on his LinkedIn account on Thursday wrote the NFL sponsor has been asked "about how the league’s handling of recent abuse accusations against certain players will affect the company’s brand and advertising spending." He wrote that those questions "miss the point and reiterated Verizon’s commitment to working with the NFL on a long-term program to address domestic violence." McAdam: “The real crisis this firestorm has brought to light goes way beyond Verizon’s image or the future of the NFL. It’s about the scourge of domestic violence itself -- a plague that crosses all sports, all communities, and all demographics." He added, "Because of our long-standing commitment to this issue, we believe we can be far more effective in preventing domestic violence by remaining in the arena with our partners at the NFL, rather than backing away from the controversy" (
BLOOMBERG NEWS, 9/19). Meanwhile, Nationwide Insurance on Thursday in a statement said it finds the NFL's recent incidents involving domestic violence and abuse to be "very concerning.” The statement: “The recent actions of a few players certainly are not consistent with our corporate values. We understand the league is working to complete a full and independent investigation, and we await their resolution of these matters" (
BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/18).
LOOKING FOR AN OUT? ESPN.com's Darren Rovell reported Anheuser-Busch's sponsorship contract with the NFL contains a clause that states the brewer can "unilaterally end the deal in writing if a 'league-wide' event 'brings the entire NFL, not just particular member clubs, players, coaches or employees, into national disrepute, scandal or ridicule.'" A-B would have to "prove that the event resulted in a loss of value in the deal" (ESPN.com, 9/18). Meanwhile, VARIETY's Brian Lowry wrote the "indignation and shock expressed by advertisers," including A-B, has a "stronger-than-usual whiff of hypocrisy." Getting "flagged by the maker of Budweiser sounds particularly galling, inasmuch as beer and football are so inextricably linked, and the company has pretty much treated the Super Bowl as its own special showcase for as long as anyone can remember." Moreover, there is "plenty of research to suggest that while alcohol abuse is not necessarily a direct cause of domestic violence, it can exacerbate situations, peeling back social inhibitions" (VARIETY.com, 9/18).
