Our colleague (sort of) and friend (when we need something) Darren Rovell of CNBC reports that the civil-lawsuit sexual assault allegations against Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger have yet to prompt any of Roethlisberger’s off-field sponsors to give him the Kobe Bryant treatment.
Rovell points out that companies like Sprite, Spalding, and Nutella shifted away from Bryant in the wake of criminal and civil rape allegations made against him in 2003.
Roethlisberger currently appears in a commercial for Dick’s Sporting Goods, pitching a Nike cleat.
“Ben Roethlisberger has been a longtime Nike athlete and continues to be part of our roster,” Nike spokesman Derek Kent told Rovell. “As has been our policy, we decline to comment on pending legal matters.”
Dick’s Sporting Goods is taking the same approach.
“Our view is that this is a judicial process and we’ll let this play out,” Dick’s chief marketing office Jeff Hennion told Rovell. “Ben has always been a great spokesman for us and until something in the legal arena has changed, we will continue with this campaign.”
We think that’s the fair and appropriate approach. At this point, there’s no proof that Roethlisberger did anything wrong. Instead, only one person is making an allegation that likely won’t be supported by direct, third-party evidence.
Meanwhile, we’ll be waiting to see whether this spot ever runs again.
