“Can Ruin Lives and Families”: Wayne Gretzky’s Endorsement With Jamie Foxx Faces Harsh Criticism From Fans

Wayne Gretzky is the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer and is widely regarded as the greatest ice hockey player of all time. Jamie Foxx, on the other hand, is an accomplished actor, singer, and comedian. Recently, the two superstars met and teased fans with the possibility of a collaboration. While the details of their project remain under wraps, the hype around this potential collaboration is palpable.

The actor invited the NHL legend to his party in Los Angeles. The stars were clicked together, but the photo was later used as an ad for BetMGM. This has landed Wayne and Jamie in a new controversy.

The controversy surrounding Wayne Gretzky and Jamie Foxx’s collaboration for BetMGM

The Django Unchained actor recently got injured during his shooting for the upcoming Netflix movie, “Back In Action,” and was hospitalized. The media had falsely reported that he was on his deathbed. Foxx organized this party to set the record straight about his recovery. Everyone was delighted when Foxx started making public appearances. They were incredibly excited to see the actor in the same frame as ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. The unexpected collaboration between the two icons generated a positive buzz.

However, the positive buzz turned negative when Wayne posted the picture, tagging BetMGM. The NHL superstar uploaded a photo of himself with Jamie Foxx on his Instagram account with the caption, “Great to be in Vegas working with @iamjamiefoxx and @betmgm. One of the best nights of my life with the greatest person. Big things coming soon…”. The post received backlash from fans who accused both Wayne Gretzky and Jamie Foxx of promoting gambling. Many have argued that as role models, they are setting a bad example for their followers.

Outraged fans speak out

Jamie Foxx posted about his meeting with Wayne on his Instagram account, saying, “The Great One!!!” Great to see u! Blessings!!!”. When the duo revealed their meeting was about a deal with a sports betting company, the fans could not hide their disappointment. One fan did not mince their words when criticizing Wayne and Jamie. “So sad that you are endorsing something that can ruin lives and families”. Another fan felt frustrated that Wayne Gretzky would consider promoting BetMGM as his greatest accomplishment. “One of the best nights in your life was promoting a gambling company?”

One admirer of Wayne criticized the ice hockey player’s decision to accept this deal. “I have always thought so highly of you Wayne, but I totally disagree with your endorsement of online betting. It ruins people lives”. Lastly, another commenter could not help but express their disdain for the legends giving up on their values for money. “Seriously. Gambling. Sellout”.

Read More: “It Stuck Forever”: NHL Goat Wayne Gretzky Once Revealed the History Behind His Famous Nickname ‘The Great One’

This is not the first time BetMGM has collaborated with high-profile celebrities for their promotion. In the past, they have also joined hands with well-known athletes like Jonathan Marchessault and Marc-Andre Fleury. Even then, the fans of the two NHL hard-hitters were not happy with the deal. BetMGM wants to distinguish itself from other betting agencies by hiring prominent celebrities to represent the company. With this backlash from the fans, the deal might be in jeopardy.

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