Subway Keeps Phelps on Board

Fast-food chain 'accepts his apology' but plans to shelve TV ads for now
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 6, 2009 6:33 PM CST
Subway Keeps Phelps on Board
In this Sept. 25, 2008, file photo, Michael Phelps, winner of eight gold medals in the Beijing Olympics, smiles while holding a box of cereal with his image on it in Baltimore.   (AP Photo/Rob Carr, File)

Subway is sticking with Michael Phelps despite his bong-tarnished image, Advertising Age reports. One day after Kellogg dropped the Olympian over his marijuana use, Subway said it was "disappointed with his behavior," but, "like most Americans, we accept his apology. Moving forward, he remains in our plans." Subway will likely shelve its first TV campaign with Phelps for now.

America's largest fast-food chain, Subway beat out big-name bidders to secure Phelps to a multi-year deal last December. McDonald's appeared to be one of the bidding war losers. "McDonald's is Goliath, and we're David," a Subway executive said. "Fortunately I have a pretty good slingshot." (More Michael Phelps stories.)

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