Addis Ababa – Ethiopia’s greatest athlete of all time and current World marathon record holder, Haile Gebrselassie is now in hot seat after he signed a $100,000 agreement with Diageo to do an ad for Johnnie Walker’s whiskey, wrote the Amharic weekly newspaper, the Ethiopian Reporter.
Haile signed a one-year contract with representatives of Diageo, the maker of Johnnie Walker whisky, at a press conference held at the Sheraton Addis.
The complaints from the media and the public at large is that Haile is considered by many Ethiopians and others around the world as a great role model, and such ad can send the wrong message to the youth that it is OK to drink alcohol.
When asked about it, Haile downplayed the fear contending that whether he advertised Johnnie Walker or not, those who are under the age of 18 are not allowed to drink by law. And “If people get drunk, it is not my responsibility. They should drink responsibly,” he said.
The newspaper also said that Haile, who admitted that he takes a sip once in a while, tried to convince those who attended the conference that it was not wrong to advertise the alcohol product (whiskey), often regarded as a glamorous gift by many Ethiopians, but warned that people should drink alcohol responsibly.
love of money…..end
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by አዲስ/Addis. አዲስ/Addis said: RT @Mwistar: #Ethiopians unhappy with the Johnny Walker/Gebreselassie ad contract http://bit.ly/feCmVa [...]
So funny the late yednekachew tessema one of the founder of Ethiopian football federation he was make sure alcohol and cigarete not to advertise on addiss abeba stadium period now we are to be told drink with responsibility mr haile time to see u r spiritual adviser
He should be banned from any athlete.
We need to have law to hold responsible and accountable advertisers and to be sued by unlimited money. I think the government should ban alcohol advertising. I believe that alcohol advertising is not good because young people take a lot of notice of the advertisements. The way they make drinking alcohol look so good and fun. But in reality it is not. When you think of bad things that have happened to families and people because of alcohol. For example broken marriages, car accidents due to drink driving, domestic violence, alcohol is bad for a lot of people. When some people get drunk they do things they would not do when sober. . Why won’t the government ban alcohol advertising? I consider alcohol to be worse then smoking. I admit smoking causes problems but usually it only affects the smoker. Alcohol however affects innocent people
HAILE……he is always about money.
A year ago i unfortunately had spent one day with him.
and i regreted meeting him.
sometimes its better to admire someone from far.
may be when decided to stop running he must have been drunk.
cause he reconsidered his decision after exactly a week.
it must have been a hung-over.
Hey guys you should analyze first before u said to public the man u accouse is haile the greatest he knows what he is doing Even though drinking is not good it is not ur headace if u do not want drink do not drink this is modern world every body know what he want no bady influence unless he want to do so.
@EPHREM BUNNA
IF EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT HE/SHE IS DOING THEN WHY BOTHER ADVERTIZING.
Haile is supposed to be a raw model that’s why I personaly disagree
with what he has did.i may be a no body but i am entiteld to my own opinion.
adverizing alcohol can have bad consequenes for the youth.
if a man made a mistake he should be told about it.
we shouldnot worship him.
he is just a man
I have a new project for Haile and will pay him $200,000. The project is to advertise Chat/Khat on TV. If there is an outrage by Etiopians, “If people get high with Chat it is not my responsibility. They should chew responsibly,” Haile would answer.
Drinking alcohol is dangerous for kids and teens and sometimes for adults, too. Alcohol is a drug, and it is the drug most abused by teens. Many kids have their first drink at an early age, as young as 10 or 11 or even younger.
It’s easy for kids to get the wrong message about alcohol. They might see their parents drink or watch TV commercials that make drinking look like a lot of fun. You might see people drinking and watching sports together or having a big party.
But alcohol is actually a depressant. That means it’s a drug that slows down or depresses the brain. Like many drugs, alcohol changes a person’s ability to think, speak, and see things as they really are. A person might lose his or her balance and have trouble walking properly. The person might feel relaxed and happy and later start crying or get in an argument
i think the idea that Haile is after money holds true because being a role model to others is worth more than $100,000.00. So, if someone asks him to promote about something, the first thing that comes to his mind is I think the amount, money.
Haile didn’t ask to be your role model or any body’s role model for that matter. He is an athlete and a business man. If you have a problem about advertising Alcohol then you are barking on a wrong tree. First of all, you need to try to convince the organisation who is responsible in looking at the ethics of advertisement and then lobby ETV not to make any advertising of alcohol; only then Haile won’t be able to do it because it is illegal.
But asking Haile not to do an advert which isn’t illegal and doesn’t breach any laws in the country just because you believe alcohol is bad is embarrassing at its best.
[...] SHORTEST (AND STRANGEST) RETIREMENT After DNF'ing at the 2010 ING New York City Marathon, the legendary — and legendarily nice — Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia tells reporters he is retiring from running. Then almost immediately hints that he might not be really retired, like retired-retired. Then reverses his decision a week later and says he's back. Amid rumors that the Ethiopian government pressured him and/or was tapping his phones. Okaaaay. (Update: Haile is now a paid endorser of whiskey.) [...]
Cheers ….. Haile
It is good for your two years achievement of the five years transformation plan.
This is the did of Irresponsible persone. money worth nothing than saving this and the comming generation……….
My friends,
Ignore the above comment as his name mentions in the Amharic meaning he is “Dedeb” meaning ignorant.
I will invite you very soon to advertise our local alchol drink(katikhala)
For all
would you please post a comment responsibly
Did you guys see the benefits too?
While Haile is doing the ad he is advertising Ethiopia, and the money he will get will benefit Ethiopia too.
There are always people who are considered as rolmodels for millions of people. Still they have some problems (because they are people who have rolemodels too).
I say let us take the ‘good’ things of Haile and leave the ‘bad’ things, if we think “advertizing alcohol” is BAD.
If haile did not take this chance someone would have taken it?
so why we are so much jealousy about the money he got?
Did n’t you hear that a lot of young people buy “HABESHA BEER” share from the organizers ? at that time what prevents you from barking ?
Dear All,
I have seen your comments. I really appreciate what Haile has been doing and what Haile achieved in the past decade be it in Sport or in Business setup and related activities. Haile is also a role model in creating a job and letting somebody get sustainable income. I was in his side when everybody commented him regarding money. He has shown others who can learn from him in handling and managing money for growth. I am still in his side in this regard with a few comments such as having a foundation by his name and using the money he generates by his name for the foundation. A foundation for Ethiopian old people, for Ethiopian children with no one for them, for building library, school, clinic, hospital, electric power, clean water, road, education… and the like.
The latest news about Haile was his departure from sport and his return back to sport. I like this one too. The very latest news is regarding his Johnnie Walker advert. This makes me a little sad regarding his decision to advert it. Not only a person like Haile but also everybody knows how dangerous is a drink, a smoke, khat and other similar activities. Being a fact that these practices are very dangerous for human being specially for developing nations with zero back up, no factory did stop or tried to reduce production or tried to help people get out of these addictions or tried to insure people who got difficulty of addiction. Those who can manage to get medication will go to rehabilitation and those who got lost of everything their health, money and job go to their grave. What the drink factories, smoking industries doing is increasing drinking production, smoking production and khat production with a clear label written in the container “Drink Responsibly” “Smoking Kills” “Smoking leads to Cancer” and so and so forth. But did you check the progress of addicted people in the developing nations? (Check the site here how smoking habit is increasing in the developing world http://www1.worldbank.org/tobacco/book/pdf/02-Tobacco-Chap1.pdf) and check to see the details for how many people are addicted by alcohol here http://www.greenfacts.org/en/alcohol/index.htm#2)
Therefore no matter what you say with the advert of drinking, smoking and related addiction items it has got no effect in the other hand it is like pouring a fuel in fire. As of me it has a negative implication on the society and when it comes to us (developing nations) the effect will be more serious. So what I advice our hero’s is that when they decide to take part in such related activities it is advisable to consult their advisors and think about it thoroughly before taking part. No matter what Haile does his legacy will remain permanent but the people need him to use his Name (not his money) effectively and bring millions of dollars for kids, old people, females and so and so forth. Let us praise Haile for what he has been doing excellent and provide him a positive feedback to align his excellent power in hand (his successes and his name) and the actual Ethiopian people need. Haile has got everything in hand he can keep on getting successes in his profession and business as well as use his name and effort to help his needy people. We like you Haile very much and always.
Keep up the good Job!
Hey all u haters. Leave Haile alone. We are in a business world. And apparently many of u posters hate successful people.
Dear all who are criticising the Greates Runnur are requested not to blame him as everyone on this Earth is running after Money so what wrong he did ? Bush…. Obama…. Clinton…. Meles…. Charles…Zardari….Elizbeth….All people making money by making rifts among people ….dont mind dears ….Enjoy the life positively …dont be jealous …God will bless you all
There is no excuse for an athlete doing hard liquor ad. Period!
Remember the great Yidnekachew Tessema? He orchestrated and banned alcohol ads from stadiums all across Africa. You see, Haile is going against the good work of Yidnekachew and the like. No excuse! It is totally selfish.
Am I the only one who thinks this is funny?
First the dude was on Flotrack saying “Don’t smoke, don’t drink alcohol. Don’t do it!”. Now, just a few weeks later he’s got a contract with Johnnie Walker whiskey.
He can make his own choices. I’ll always look up to him. But I just think it’s funny that he of all people would sign on with an alcohol company.
To the poster who said advertising alcohol should be illegal-
Why? Its horrible how restricted our lives are. The government needs to let capitalism and freedom run the place. Government is here to protect us when something bad happens, by supplying proper force that a collective amounn of people can only give. it is not here to micromanage our lives and shield us from every danger by putting us on leeshes.
This is a legitimate buisness. Its not the CEO’s fault that peopel are idiots and drink and get killed. In moderation, alcohol consumption is benficial.
Get this socialist liberal idea out of your mind so that America can return to its former glory instead of your socialist healthcare.
Surely most of you who open your mouth against this guy are hypocrites. Get the log out of your eyes instead of trying to pluck a speck out of that of others’. What Haile has done to his country is way beyond what an average citizen of this planet can achieve. Your silly comments are but a sign of intellectual laziness and mental instability. Get a life morons!
Hi, dears we have seen what increadable things in this modern world i think when i heard this news i don’t expect it, because he is a great “icon” Halie G/Selassie the indomitable one there fore am really suppose to do that he should make an arrangement for the next year it is already passed.
This commercial doesn’t even show Haile drinking alcohol. It’s just showing the great things he did, and Johnnie Walker’s support for it. Nothing wrong here.
i cant believe it, i just read a comment that says he should be banned from athletics…
heeeloooooo r u feeling alrite my friend. wat would u have said if he was advertiing “tela” o dats an ethiopian drink so its ok or would u still have suggested that he be banned. c’mooonn, this is an advert that promotes the whole ethiopian in a different aspect of the western world. they dont even know who we are, at least now they know that we have greats like haile who are paid by diageo for an advert. how many people dont know wat red label blak label …are. i bet no one. and plus he is saying to drink responsibly. if he was doing a commercial for a shoe and u didnt like the shoe would u still criticise??? ya fine this is liquor but hes not telling u to get wasted, nor kids go out and get drinks. first of all they wont even be allowed to buy one but still, if u cant hold ur liquor, STOP DRINKING, get help of some sort. in my opinion hes saying keep walking.
For all of you who thinks that haile made a mistake, I have to ask you ,are u on drugs or something ? I mean i don’t understand what you’r barking about .I am sure that jalousie blinded you for real! If a great athlete as haile finds a good opportunity as this one to promote his country , give inspiration to the youth and not to mention the honour of being partner with THE WALK WITH GIANTS campaign.do you think he’d even blink his ayes once?hell noooooooo,he would take it without even thinking about it for a second .so get reed of what ever you are on,and open your eyes for the first time of your life and start putting some effort to change your self.cause that’s what haile is trying to do’!!!!!!!!
Why always being negative ?try to be posetive sometimes ,haile didn’t do this for money he is
One of the reachest athlete in the world ,i don’t have to mention that he is one hell of a good
Business man.with all that money he has got do you really think he did it for money? I think he did it for honour and inspiration for the youth,!!!!
love ,money
hu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
See you in chivas & st. george advertising. Haile what are you doing?
See you in Cigarettes & st. george advertising. Haile what are you doing?
Haile seems to have lost hope in competitive running. What made him cry in Newyork was not so much the dropping out of the race, but rather the money that he lost in the process. He must have had annual plan of getting this much dollar per year. If he can not ,nonetheless, run he can at least talk the walk he had and make advertisement. But in alcohol? not so good for an athlete of his stature. He went too low for money and set a very bad example. Alcohol is a killer and has ruined the health and integrity of many people, it has led to families breaking apart and contributes to a negative economy of a country. That is why some countries put additional tax on alcohol and cigarette (called sin tax). Since Haile is in unhealthy race to be the richest in Ethiopia, he does not mind throwing himself for any thing that offers money. Haile is unnecessarily becoming money-minded. Like his competitive instinct in running, he has set himself in unhealthy competition for richness and money. I am sure he is restless and business can be illusory. Haile should learn to backtrack and live happily happy with what he has.