On Monday I reported that Ryan Lochte was dropped by Speedo, and Ralph Lauren decided not to renew his contract. He had two endorsements left including one who initially said they would stand by him but now they’re ALL gone.
Gentle Hair Removal and Airweave, who said Lochte would remain their ambassador, have both terminated their endorsement deals with the disgraced US Olympic swimmer, who won 12 Olympic medals, including six golds.
Lochte, who admitted he was drunk in the early-morning hours of Aug. 14, destroyed a sign at a gas station. He and the swimmers were then held by security guards with guns at the gas station and released after they paid a fee. Lochte later said in an interview with NBC that the swimmers were robbed at gunpoint, an account which he later called an exaggeration.
When asked by NBC’s Matt Lauer whether his original version of the story could cost him his endorsements, Lochte answered it could.
“And that’s something I’m going to have to live with,” Lochte said.
Lochte also faces potential disciplinary action from the U.S. Olympic Committee, with CEO Scott Blackmun saying Sunday that further action was coming. USA Swimming and the IOC could both sanction Lochte.
source: ESPN
