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LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 26: NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and co-owner of 23XI Racing looks on from the 23XI Racing pit box prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Pocono Organics CBD 325 at Pocono Raceway on June 26, 2021 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sean Gardner/23XI Racing via Getty Images)
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LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 26: NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and co-owner of 23XI Racing looks on from the 23XI Racing pit box prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Pocono Organics CBD 325 at Pocono Raceway on June 26, 2021 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sean Gardner/23XI Racing via Getty Images)
Michael Jordan is having a successful career post-retirement, and he’s a billionaire now. Jordan is still very popular and is one of the biggest celebrities in the world in terms of popularity. Due to this, he has bagged some of the biggest endorsement deals that an athlete can only dream of.
His Airness is well known for his endorsement deal with Nike, which has been with him for more than three decades. However, not many would know about Jordan and his partnership with Hanes, a US-based innerwear brand. Jordan and Hanes have been in partnership for more than 30 years now. In 2019, the two celebrated the 30 year anniversary of their partnership. Hanes consumers got trading cards that featured Jordan from his ads for Hanes.
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SONOMA, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 06: NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and co-owner of 23XI Racing waits in the #23 DoorDash Toyota pit area prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 06, 2021 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
However, there is one particular ad that sparked a lot of controversy during the 2000s. Jordan once wore a Hitler mustache in for a Hanes ad back in 2010 and got called out by celebrities. However, the ad worked for the brand as it boosted its sales.
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Michael Jordan wore a Hitler mustache for an ad for Hanes
Jordan is now a brand, and it’s fair to say that he has done several advertisements for different companies. However, his ad for Hanes in 2020 stands out.
In 2010, #MichaelJordan sparked some controversy when he was wearing a #Hitler moustache for a Hanes ad. pic.twitter.com/lLhGv2bxRE
— OpenCourt-Basketball (@OpenCourtFB) June 2, 2020
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After the ad was out, several celebrities called him out for the same. Former NBA star Charles Barkley was among the first ones to respond to the ad.
“When I saw that commercial, I had to do a double take. I don’t know what the hell he was thinking,” Barkley said. “That is one of the stupidest things that I have seen in a long time.”
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Not just the NBA industry, Ashton Kutcher and Jay Mohr expressed their disbelief at the same. However, the commercial worked out for Hanes as it boosted their sales. Hanes made a lot of profit after the ad and their sales rose up to $90 million in that quarter.
