Top Five Sell Outs: Celebrity Food Endorsements

I get mad when I see celebrities selling out their 'brand' for a big endorsement paycheck.

I get really really mad when it involves health.

And I'm not alone. I loved when Tony Bourdain publicly called out Rachel Ray for endorsing Dunkin Donuts:

“She's got a magazine, a TV empire, all these best-selling books — I'm guessing she's not hurting for money,” Anthony ranted. “She's hugely influential, particularly with children. And she's endorsing Dunkin’ Donuts. It's like endorsing crack for kids.”

-Anthony Bourdain

Rachel is one celebrity on my list...click read more to see my TOP FIVE CELEBRITY SELL OUTS LIST.

Top Five Celebrity Healthy Eating Sell Outs

5. Rachel Ray, Dunkin Donuts
OK, I actually love Rachel Ray, from back in the $40 a Day TV show days. I even watch her show no and then. I applauded the vegan Bob Greene lasagna recipe she had on her show recently. But when you have an organization devoted to kids health (Yum-O), and your selling a breakfast of black coffee, greasy cheesy biscuits, donuts and hash browns fare, I see a severely distorted message. Rachel, slash the DD contract and get back to the healthy happy Rachel brand. The one all moms, kids and families can embrace.

4. Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Eli Manning and Peyton Manning, Double Stuf Oreos
I was so mad when I first saw that Double Stuf Oreo commercial featuring both the amazing Williams sisters and the Manning brothers. My Gosh! Can you get a worse food to endorse! Oreos! And the ones with the extra cream filling?! Amazing athletes like these who had a huge kid fan base should be endorsing things like sports equipment, vitamin brands or fresh fruits and veggies! I seriously doubt that either of the sibling pairs keeps oreos in their homes. So please stop with this incredibly awful endorsement you four big-time athletes.
Oh, and a bit of Double Stuf Oreo nutrition facts: two cookies have 140 calories, 7 grams of fat and 3 grams of saturated fat. Yuck.

3. Michael Phelps, Frosted Flakes
I was pretty peeved when I heard that Michael Phelps, eight time Olympic gold medal winner, was going to endorse...wait for it...
Frosted Flakes!
I posted a blog about this Phelps Phrosted Phlakes Phlub.
...stick to the Rosetta Stone endorsements Mike...

2. Coca-Cola and Pepsi, NFL and Olympics Organizations
Two huge organizations, the NFL and the Olympics. I wish they would act a bit more responsibly when it comes to healthy messages.
I am not a huge soda hater. I enjoy a yummy fizzy beverage from time to time. But never as a sports hydration beverage. And I do not think soda should be anywhere near athletes in competition! Leave the soda for fans and ticket holders. I always notice how a few ads, commercials and endorsements for Coke and Pepsi involve athletes and that makes me say "Booooooooo."

1. Paris Hilton, Carl's Junior Burger
I'm sorry Paris.

But you don't need the money.

And you know your main fan base is little girls who are struggling to gain a healthy lifestyle all while struggling to acquire a good amount of self esteem. And watching their favorite pink princess heiress chomp down on a big juicy burger is not sending a healthy-lifestyle message. And the black skin-tight bathing suit outfit didn't help either. I would have no problem if you were say, a bikini model doing this ad. Or a 'sexy' branded actress. But you are Paris Hilton. You have a line of perfume for girls, teens. You have a pop music album. And you always talk about loving your little girl fans. So no more Carl's Jr. ads Paris, please.

Do you have any 'favorite' sell out celeb ads??? There are lots out there!

..And do you think that they are selling out?

What Would You Do?

Would you choose the money or the conflict of interest in your 'brand' ?