Foolish Ferry frightens M&S
Posted in Advertising, Marketing, Branwell Johnson, Latest reporters' blogs April 17th, 2007 by Branwell Johnson
Yet another salutary lesson in how celebrity endorsement can bite you on the backside has materialised - this time for Marks & Spencer - with the revelation that Bryan Ferry admires the Nazi propaganda aesthetic and the goosesteppers’ fine parades.
It’s a tricky conundrum for companies employing celebs to decide just when they really have gone so far out of the orbit of decent behaviour that they should be ditched. Kate Moss has survived and flourished since a scandal, but she’s a young (ish) supermodel. Wayne Rooney nearly lost some endorsements a while back due to temper tantrums and swearing, but he survived because of his talent and admiration from a young fanbase.
Ferry is a superannuated crooner with a new album out of Bob Dylan covers – which the world needs like a new hole in the ozone layer – and for some reason is still held up as an epitome of style and sophistication. David Bowie did a Nazi salute in the 70s but he was young, foolish and on drugs. Keith Moon wore a Nazi armband and Sieg-Heiled but he was young, foolish, on drugs and taking the p*ss.
Rehabilitation for Ferry? I hope not.
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