Pfizer - Pelé
Staying with football/soccer, it feels necessary to bring to attention the Brazilian player Pelé, largely regarded as the greatest player of all time.
However, several years back Pelé featured as the spokeman for Pfizer’s erectile dysfunction drug Viagra heading up the Pfizer Love Life Again Campaign to educate men on the impact a healthy love life has on overall physical and emotional well-being.
“Men listen to Pele because he's believable and well-respected both on and off the playing field,” said Jack Watters, Vice President of Medical Affairs for Pfizer in Europe back in 2003.
Talking in his autobiography, the great man himself said: “When I endorse a product I will only say things in which I believe. I’m not afraid of being controversial. Certainly many eyebrows were raised when I decided to talk about erectile dysfunction for Pfizer, the makers of Viagra.
This came about because Pfizer got in touch with me saying that young people were dying because they were using Viagra incorrectly… Pfizer wanted me to encourage men to take it properly by going to see a doctor… Once they explained what it was about, I was happy to do it.”