Maybe you did not know that Olympic athlete Michael Phelps has been tapped to be the new “brand ambassador” for Head & Shoulders, but you will soon: TV ads for the shampoo featuring Phelps will begin at the end of the month, part of a full-blown campaign that will include Facebook, Twitter, digital and in-store promotions, P&G said Wednesday in New York at a publicity stunt for the shampoo.
And what a publicity stunt it was! The powers-that-be at Procter & Gamble decided that it would be a good idea for Phelps to be photographed in a shower using the shampoo. So they set up a shower at New York’s Soho House, made Phelps slap on a Speedo, and hop on in while photographers snapped away (why is not exactly clear; we all know how to wash our hair, right?). The resulting pictures are alternatively uncomfortably erotic and just plain uncomfortable. It’s hard to make Michael Phelps look more awkward than he already does, but this photoshoot did just that.
But Phelps was a good sport about it all, which he should be, as the deal is worth a reported $100 million.
Let’s take a look at the most erotically cringe-worthy, shall we?
Oh hey! Look! It’s Head & Shoulders! Jesus, Phelps looks like a kid
who just got an X-Box for Christmas, doesn’t he? He looks so excited, it
might make that $100 million pay check worth every penny.
Nice side angle here for Phelps. He was probably just getting tired of
standing, facing the cameras while he shampooed. He looks so thoughtful.
What do you think he’s thinking about? Mad bong hits? What is going on
with his Speedo? Probably how much shampoo he’s going to buy with that
$100 million paycheck. Heck, he’s going to buy all of the shampoo in
Baltimore!
You can tell on his face that being objectified while shilling for a dandruff shampoo isn’t what Phelps really wants to be doing. Men who are genetically half porpoise have better things to do with their time. But hey, did we mention that $100 million is on the line here? Also, is it just us, or is his ear about half the size of his head?
“Ah! My eyes! My eyes!”
“Oh wait. I can tip my head back so the soap doesn’t get in my eyes and look sexy while doing so. Sweet. Nice move, Phelps.”
Well, now we know that if this whole swimming/sponsorship thing doesn’t work out, Phelps can always fall back on soft-core pornography.
Now, who needs a shower after reading this?
