Kellogg Offends Stoners, Michael Phelps Has Last Laugh
I thought it was a really bonehead move for Kellogg to drop Michael Phelps after a picture of him smoking a bong was published.
Why was this stupid for the company? Because potheads love cereal! Kellogg offended a very important demographic.
My theory has proven to be true. Vanno tracks the reputations of 5,500 companies by asking users to submit articles and rate them, based on how favorable the coverage is to the subject. One of those brands is Kellogg’s, and the data says that dumping Micheal Phelps after his bong exploit made the brand tank. In Vanno’s ranking’s, Kellogg’s spiraled downward, from 9th best to 83rd, during the course of the Phelps hubbub.
In addition, the Cannabis Reform Coalition (CRC), a registered student organization at the University of Massachusetts, gathered with other students outside the Student Union Monday in protest of Kellogg Cereal Company’s decision to fire Michael Phelps.
UMass’ CRC argues that this is hypocritical as Kellogg’s never took issue with, and still willingly endorsed Phelps, after he was arrested for drunken driving in 2004, an action that could have harmed or killed somebody.
Terry Franklin, a liaison to the campus from an off-campus legalization movement group, made a brief speech the Student Union steps
“The disturbing thing is that [Kellogg’s] belief and attitude is tied with the law … believe what you want but don’t use force and violence against those who believe differently, for that is what you authorize when you make it a matter of criminal law,” said Franklin.
He was joined by activists that chanted, “Buy dime bags, not cereal”, “Kellogg’s hates stoners!”, “Buy generic” and “Say no to Pop Tarts” among others. Many held up signs that wrote, “Kellogg’s is pro-drunk driving?” and “Be a cannabis hero, buy generic!”
Dumping Michael Phelps was worse for Kellogg than the peanut butter scare.