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5 Bizarre Celebrity Endorsements

Artistic credibility be damned, sometimes you’ve got to get paid. That’s clearly what these celebrities were thinking when they took on these oddball endorsement deals.

I am not one to shame anyone for how to choose to make money,* but that doesn’t change the fact that some of these endorsements are a bit surreal.

OJ Simpson On The Run For Hertz

We could (and probably should) do a whole post on all the money-making schemes OJ Simpson engaged in over the years, but for today, let’s focus on his time as a “running” spokesman for Hertz rental cars.

This is only bizarre because of Simpson’s infamous run from the cops in his (owned, not rented) White Ford Bronco.

It is tough to explain to the younger kids that there was a time when OJ was more than a notorious murder suspect. He was probably the most beloved professional athlete turned actor in the United States at one time.

Harrison Ford Sells Japanese Beer

There was a time in the 80s and 90s when Hollywood’s elite would do commercials for brands in Japan. The reasoning was that money was good, and there was no such thing as the Internet, so it wasn’t like it would come back to haunt them. Well, then the Internet arrived.

There is a slew of bizarre Japanese ads done by Hollywood celebrities, but I want to focus on the ones Harrison Ford did for Kirin Beer. Stateside, Ford is known for being a press-shy non-nonsense grouch. In Japan, he’s pretty much the real-life Indiana Jones.

Jamie Lee Curtis For Yogurt

Jamie Lee Curtis, Papa Patterson’s first crush, is not one for the spotlight. But she is one for delicious and nutritious** yogurt.

At least she has a good sense of humor about it.

If I hear anyone refer to Jamie Lee Curtis as the “yogurt lady,” there will be fisticuffs.

Bob Dylan Bares None Of It For Victoria’s Secret

When I first read about Bob Dylan endorsing Victoria’s Secret, I figured they just used one of his songs in an ad. And they did, but the lingerie company also used the corporeal remains of the Nobel Prize winner himself.

Hulk Hogan’s PastaMania Runs Mild

The story goes that Hulk Hogan was presented with two endorsement options: An at-home countertop grill or a string of quick-service pasta franchises. Hogan went with the pasta franchises, and PastaMania was born. The one location inside the Mall Of America lasted less than a year and cost Hogan a lot of money.

Oh, and the at-home grill Hogan passed out? That became the George Forman Grill, and the pro boxer reportedly made $8 million a month off the venture.

What’s your favorite bizarre celebrity endorsement? Let us know in the comment section below.

*I write articles about wrestling and John Wayne, after all.

**The nutritiousness of Activia is highly disputed.

Hunter Patterson

Hunter Patterson is a writer based in Los Angeles. He loves writing about pop culture, popcorn, and pro wrestling. When he isn't writing, he is working on several creative endeavors. In his free time, he enjoys reading science fiction, perfecting his chili recipe, and exploring Los Angeles' amazing culinary scene.