This includes Ralph Lauren and a company specializing in laser hair removal.
Advertisement
Ryan Lochte has lost his major sponsors after it emerged that he falsely claimed he and three team-mates had been held up by armed robbers at the Rio Olympics, with Speedo saying it will cut ties with the U.S. swimmer. In addition, Speedo USA said $50,000 that would’ve gone to the 12-time Olympic medalist was being donated to Save The Children to benefit needy youngsters in Brazil.
Speedo, the biggest sponsor of the four, said: “We can not condone behaviour that is counter to the values this brand has long stood for”.
Last week, as Mr. Lochte’s tale of an alleged robbery unraveled, Speedo said it was “following the situation”, echoing similar statements from mattress maker Airweave and Ralph Lauren at the time.
Speedo said in a statement that “while we have enjoyed a successful relationship with Ryan for more than a decade, he was an important member of the team, we can not tolerate behavior that is contrary to the values of this brand for a long time”.
Bentz said in his statement that he believes there are surveillance videos shot from different angles that have not been released.
Lochte’s version of the incident embarrassed the host city, angered local officials and further revelations about it – casting doubt on Lochte’s story – dominated news coverage of South America’s first Olympics. We are grateful for his many achievements and hope that he will learn from his mistakes, “said brand”.
An investigation by USA Today says that there is more to the Ryan Lochte/US swim team robbery story than the Rio police have said.
Through a spokeswoman, Ralph Lauren said Monday that Lochte’s endorsement agreement with the clothing company had been only for the 2016 Olympics, and that his contract would not be renewed.
A Syneron-Candela statement said: “Syneron-Candela will be ending its partnership with Ryan Lochte”.
Lochtes commercial sponsors announced they are parting ways with the swimmer, who initially claimed he and his teammates were robbed at gunpoint early August 14 after a night of partying.
USA Today reported that Lochte and the three other swimmers vandalized the bathroom at the gas station where they had a confrontation with the security guards.
It was a PR nightmare for the U.S. Olympic committee, and now several of Lochte’s sponsors are cutting ties with the athlete.
Lochte, in an initial interview to NBC, said “these guys came out with a badge, a police badge, no lights, no nothing just a police badge and they pulled us over”. “And that’s something that I’m going to have to live with”, Lochte said in the interview.
Lochte has since apologised to Olympics host Brazil, saying he was “110%” sorry and blaming his immaturity for causing “all this ruckus”.
Advertisement
Following the incident, Lochte flew back to the United States, while the other three – Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen – stayed in Brazil. Lochte could be banned from participating at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
