USA swimmer Ryan Lochte lost the last of his four major sponsors, Japanese mattress maker Airweave, days after he admitted to exaggerating his story about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio during the Olympics.
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“That’s why I’m taking full responsibility for it”, the 12-time Olympic gold medalist told Lauer in a clip posted online.
Witnesses and security footage suggested that there’s no robbery. After piecing together the facts about that early morning encounter, Brazilian police now say Lochte, along with fellow swimmers Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen, allegedly vandalized a gas station bathroom after a night of drinking and a security guard pulled his gun when the swimmers attempted to flee without paying for the damages.
Lochte said in a statement to E!
“Speedo USA today announces the decision to end its sponsorship of Ryan Lochte”, the company said in a statement, noting that the company will donate $50,000 of Lochte’s fees to Save the Children, to go towards helping Brazilian youths.
“While we have enjoyed a winning relationship with Ryan for over a decade and he has been an important member of the Speedo team, we can not condone behavior that is counter to the values this brand has long stood for”, the prominent swimsuit company said.
Ralph Lauren is another major sponsor breaking up with Lochte.
FILE – In this Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016, file photo, United States’ Ryan Lochte checks his time in a men’s 4×200-meter freestyle heat during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Hair removal company Syneron Candela and Japanese mattress maker Airweave have also chose to distance themselves from the swimmer.
“We hold our employees to high standards, and we expect the same of our business partners”, they said in a statement. As he points out, Ryan Lochte is not the first athlete to find himself in hot water and there have certainly been other athletes who have done much more embarrassing things.
CNN Money reports that the brand signed the swimmer back in April.
‘I don’t have to worry about shaving anymore, ‘ he remarked.
“As soon as they drew their weapons, that’s when I got anxious”, Mr. Deluz, a disc jockey, said Saturday, USA Today reported.
Rumors were circulating over the weekend that Macy’s was also attempting to distance itself from Lochte by removing advertisements from its stores that featured his picture.
Though, in a statement on Monday, the company said the move was actually a scheduled marketing change.
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“As scheduled, we are transitioning out all Olympic visual as the games ended yesterday, and we are moving into our fall fashion message”, Macy’s said.
