When brands chase a promising celeb to boost sales, they sometimes end up with a spectacular flop. Below we count down ten high‑profile partnerships that went spectacularly wrong, mixing star power with marketing missteps.

Why Promising Celeb Endorsements Fail

Even the biggest names can’t guarantee success when a campaign’s execution, timing, or cultural sensitivity goes off the rails. The stories below show how a single misstep can turn a lucrative partnership into a PR nightmare.

10 Gary Lineker Likes Serial Killer Selfies

In 2017, British snack maker Walkers roped retired football legend Gary Lineker into a selfie‑driven promotion for its new crisp range. Fans were asked to snap a picture, tweet it with #WalkersWave, and stand a chance to win tickets to the UEFA Champions League final in Cardiff. The plan even promised a personalized video where Lineker thanked participants and praised their selfies.

Unfortunately, the system was fully automated and lacked any moderation. Within hours, the #WalkersWave stream was hijacked by users who fed the platform pictures of notorious serial killers—Harold Shipman, Fred West, and Jimmy Savile—prompting Lineker’s digital avatar to cheer, “Nice selfie!” The fallout was swift: Walkers had set up giant screens in Cardiff to broadcast the tweets live, and the internet was suddenly awash with macabre images.

Walkers managed to pull the plug a few hours later, but as anyone who’s ever posted online knows, once something is on the web, it lives forever.

9 Sex Crimes Sell Hatchbacks

Late 2012 found India still reeling from a horrific gang‑rape case that sparked nationwide outrage and new, stricter laws against sex crimes. In a bewildering move, JWT India decided to push Ford’s Figo hatchback by linking it to the very topic that was dominating headlines.

The agency’s cartoon featured former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi behind the wheel, flashing a victory sign while three scantily clad women were shown bound and gagged in the trunk. The tagline read, “Leave your worries behind with Figo’s extra‑large boot.” A parallel cartoon even depicted Paris Hilton lugging three Kardashians in the same manner.

Given Berlusconi’s own scandalous reputation—he was on trial for under‑age prostitution at the time—the campaign was a masterclass in tone‑deaf advertising.

8 Charles Barkley Calls New Endorsement A Scam

Back in December 2011, NBA great‑turned‑analyst Charles Barkley became the face of Weight Watchers’ “Lose Like a Man” campaign. A few weeks later, during a live broadcast of an Atlanta Hawks–Miami Heat game, Barkley unintentionally let slip that the deal was “the greatest scam going, even better than getting paid to watch sports.”

The comment happened because the broadcast’s audio feed remained active on the NBA’s “Eye on Basketball” stream after a commercial break. While his co‑hosts tried to steer the conversation back, Barkley’s off‑hand remark sparked a media frenzy, with outlets quoting him out of context and suggesting he’d denounced the program itself.Weight Watchers took the gaffe in stride, acknowledging the humor and emphasizing that the partnership was indeed a lucrative gig for the former NBA star.

7 Oprah Promotes Surface Using iPad

In 2012, Microsoft launched the Surface tablet as a direct challenger to Apple’s iPad, splashing cash on celebrity endorsements. Among the most prominent was Oprah Winfrey, whose “Favorite Things” list featured the Surface and claimed she’d bought a dozen for Christmas.

Fans were quick to spot a glaring inconsistency: Oprah’s tweet was sent from an iPad. Because Twitter automatically displays the device used to post a message, the endorsement unintentionally highlighted the very competitor Microsoft was trying to dethrone.

The blunder became a viral meme, but it also underscored a simple truth—celebs don’t always use the products they promote.

6 The Reverse Endorsement

When MTV’s “Jersey Shore” turned Michael Sorrentino, aka The Situation, into a cultural phenomenon, brands scrambled to ride his wave. Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) even offered him $10,000 to stop wearing their clothes—a move meant to distance the brand from his obnoxious on‑screen persona.A&F’s counter‑strategy was the “Fitchuation” line, a parody collection that leaned into Sorrentino’s GTL (gym, tan, laundry) lifestyle. Sorrentino sued, alleging false advertising and claiming the $10,000 offer was a publicity stunt that implied sponsorship.

The court ruled in A&F’s favor on all counts, deeming the offer “undisputedly true” and allowing the brand to keep its tongue‑in‑cheek campaign.

5 Iggy Pop Can’t Get Swiftcovered

In 2009, the punk legend Iggy Pop fronted a TV spot for British car insurer Swiftcover, proclaiming, “I got it swiftcovered. I got insurance on my insurance!” The line implied that Swiftcover actually covered musicians—a claim that quickly unraveled.

Swiftcover’s spokesperson clarified that the brand chose Iggy because he “lives life to the fullest,” not because he needed auto insurance. Nonetheless, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) investigated the ad, deeming it misleading since the insurer does not provide coverage for entertainers.

Swiftcover was forced to pull the commercial, though it continued to feature Iggy in other spots despite his ineligibility for their services.

4 Conference Bayhem

The 2014 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was supposed to be Samsung’s moment to showcase its ultra‑HD curved TVs. To add Hollywood flair, director Michael Bay was invited onto the stage alongside Samsung exec Joe Stinziano.

Bay’s presentation quickly derailed: he missed a line, fumbled the teleprompter, and ultimately walked offstage in frustration. The mishap became the headline of an otherwise lukewarm product reveal.

Two years later, Bay was slated to endorse LeEco’s self‑driving concept car, the LeSEE. The car was shipped to London for filming, but an accident damaged it beyond repair before the San Francisco unveiling. Attendees were left with only pictures and a pre‑recorded video of Bay’s endorsement.

3 Lance Armstrong’s Secret Weapon

Energy‑drink maker FRS built its brand around the tagline “Lance Armstrong’s secret weapon.” Armstrong not only invested in the company but also joined its board, lending credibility that helped FRS grow five‑fold.

When doping allegations resurfaced, FRS promptly cut ties, and Armstrong left the board. The brand then faced a consumer lawsuit accusing it of false advertising—claiming the drink’s performance boost came from Armstrong’s alleged “secret weapon” rather than the product itself.

A federal judge dismissed the claim as “puffery,” a common, non‑actionable form of advertising exaggeration.

2 Who Was Better: Dan Or Dave?

In the lead‑up to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Reebok launched a $30 million campaign pitting two relatively unknown decathletes—Dan O’Brien and Dave Johnson—against each other. The “Dan & Dave” ads, which debuted during the Super Bowl, featured the athletes training, growing up, and even as babies, turning a niche sport into a pop‑culture rivalry.

Everything seemed set for a showdown, until O’Brien bombed the pole‑vault at the U.S. trials, and Reebok’s investment went up in smoke weeks before the Games. Johnson, the remaining contender, suffered a stress fracture and settled for bronze. O’Brien eventually won gold in 1996, but by then he’d switched allegiance to Nike.

1 Oscar Pistorius Was Nike’s Bullet In The Chamber

South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius, a three‑time Paralympic champion, made history by competing in the 2012 London Olympics. The following year, his personal tragedy—being charged with the murder of his girlfriend—sent shockwaves through the sports world.Nike had previously featured Pistorius in two gun‑themed ads. One montage likened elite athletes to weapons, showing Pistorius running as a bullet in motion. A 2011 spot went further, branding him “the bullet in the chamber” alongside Nike’s iconic “Just Do It” slogan.

After the murder trial began, Nike faced a dilemma: keep a high‑profile athlete linked to a violent crime or distance itself to protect its brand image.

When it comes to the glittering world of fame, the phrase “10 strange things” often pops up when a star exits the stage without a will. The lack of a proper estate plan can turn a celebrated legacy into a courtroom drama, a media circus, or even a bizarre legal showdown. Below we count down ten of the most eyebrow‑raising aftermaths that emerged when celebrities died without a will.

10 Kurt Cobain And The Muppets

Young rock icons often overlook the importance of a will, and Kurt Cobain was no exception. The Nirvana frontman’s untimely death left his estate in a tangled mess, sparking a surprising clash with a beloved children’s franchise.

Courtney Love, Cobain’s widow, erupted in fury, accusing the Muppets of “rape”—her dramatic term for what she saw as a violation of his artistic legacy—when the puppet troupe used the iconic “Smells Like Teen Spirit” in a 2012 movie aimed at kids.

Love’s protest fell flat, however, because Primary Wave Music, which owned half of her Nirvana shares after she sold them, had already cleared the song’s use. The remaining band members also gave the green light, and one even appeared on screen, rendering Love’s claim legally moot.

9 Bob Marley And The RICO Conspiracy

Bob Marley, a devout Rastafarian, never drafted a will, as doing so would have conflicted with his spiritual belief that death was a distant concept. After his passing at 36, Jamaican law split his estate among his wife, mother, and eleven children.

Rita Marley, receiving a modest share, allegedly turned to her legal team to forge documents that pretended to pre‑date his death, dramatically inflating her portion. These falsified papers were meant to funnel massive wealth straight to her.

The scheme unraveled when a former manager exposed the fraud. The court found Rita, along with the attorney and accountant involved, guilty, stripping her of the administrator role and highlighting how a missing will can invite outright criminal behavior.

8 Marvin Gaye And ‘Blurred Lines’

Marvin Gaye’s estate was automatically divided among his children under California Probate Code after his death, but the division soon sparked a high‑profile legal showdown. The estate sued Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke, asserting that their 2013 hit “Blurred Lines” lifted the vibe of Gaye’s 1977 classic “Got to Give It Up.”

The court sided with Gaye’s heirs, awarding $7.4 million in damages and 50 percent of the song’s royalties. The verdict sent a clear message about respecting original creators and properly crediting inspirations.

The saga didn’t stop there. In 2018, Structured Asset Sales—owner of a third of the “Let’s Get It On” copyright—sued Ed Sheeran for $100 million, claiming his “Thinking Out Loud” borrowed heavily from Gaye’s work, underscoring how a missing will can ripple through music history.

7 Jimi Hendrix And Marijuana

Jimi Hendrix, the legendary 1960s guitarist, lived a lifestyle steeped in the era’s experimental drug culture. His untimely death without a will ignited a bitter dispute among his siblings over how his name should be used.

Leon Hendrix, Jimi’s brother, launched several ventures to sell Jimi‑branded marijuana products, arguing that the musician’s own history with cannabis gave him the right to commercialize the name.

Jimi’s sister, Janie, who was appointed executor of the estate, blocked Leon’s attempts, also opposing plans to market liquor, speakers, and other paraphernalia under the Hendrix brand. The clash illustrates how a missing will can fuel family feuds over brand exploitation.

6 Howard Hughes And The Handwritten Will

In the realm of bizarre estate claims, Melvin Dummar stepped forward with an astonishing story: Howard Hughes had allegedly handed him a handwritten will after the eccentric billionaire’s death, bequeathing one‑sixteenth of Hughes’s massive fortune.

Dummar said the gift was gratitude for rescuing a disheveled man on a Nevada back road in 1967—a man who claimed to be Hughes. The claim seemed far‑fetched, and the initial court dismissed it outright.

Undeterred, Dummar returned to court in 2006 with fresh evidence, alleging that Hughes’s executors deliberately blocked a fair hearing. Despite his persistence, the courts never validated the will, and Dummar walked away empty‑handed.

5 Sonny Bono And His ‘Love Child’

Sonny Bono’s death without a will sparked a sensational claim from a man named Sean Machu, who asserted he was the singer’s “love child.”

Bono had openly admitted in his memoir to an affair that produced a child, and Machu’s birth certificate bore Bono’s name. Nevertheless, the court ordered a DNA sample from the coroner’s office to confirm paternity.

When the DNA test was set to proceed, Machu withdrew his lawsuit, leaving the estate’s distribution to proceed without the unexpected heir’s involvement.

4 Princess Diana And The Godchildren

Princess Diana technically had a will, but its execution turned into a tangled affair. The original will was drafted during her marriage to Prince Charles and later altered after their divorce. In addition, she left a separate “Letter of Wishes” that the probate court did not treat as part of the legal will.

This letter earmarked a generous slice of her fortune—25 percent—to be split among 17 godchildren. Diana’s mother and sister, who acted as executors, secured a court‑issued “variation order” that reshaped the distribution.

Instead of a cash payout, each godchild received a single personal item chosen by the executors, and the gifts were only delivered once Prince Harry turned 30, adding a delayed, almost theatrical twist to the inheritance.

3 Prince And The Cybersquatter

Prince’s post‑mortem legal battles have included a quirky fight over a web domain. Domain Capital, a company that purchases and then leases domain names back to owners for anonymity, claimed ownership of “Prince.com” and demanded a cut of the late artist’s wealth.

The Prince estate refuted the claim, stating that Domain Capital never actually used the domain and that the company has a history of cybersquatting. The estate’s stance underscores Prince’s lifelong dedication to protecting his intellectual property, even after his death.

2 James Brown And The Missing Heirs

James Brown’s estate suffered from a will that hadn’t been updated to reflect his most recent marriage and child, igniting a decade‑long legal saga.

Controversy swirled around whether Tommie Rae Brown was his legitimate widow, given that she was still legally married to another man when she wed James. Simultaneously, DNA testing for his son Daryl Brown produced inconclusive results, deepening the inheritance quagmire.

The endless disputes drained the remaining assets, leaving the Godfather of Soul’s estate financially depleted after years of courtroom drama.

1 Steve McNair And The Apartment

Quarterback Steve McNair was fatally shot by his mistress at age 36, leaving behind no will and thrusting his estate into the public probate process.

During probate, a landlord stepped forward claiming unpaid rent on an apartment that a young woman—unrelated to the mistress who killed McNair—had been occupying. The claim illuminated McNair’s complicated personal life, revealing multiple girlfriends beyond the one who murdered him.

Had McNair prepared a will, the entire episode could have been handled privately, sparing his family the unwanted media spotlight and the messy public disclosure of his relationships.

10 Strange Things Unfold