DMG Entertainment to keep Phelps despite pot scandal

DMG Entertainment has said it will not cancel its endorsement deal with Michael Phelps (菲尔普斯), notwithstanding the scandal over a published photo of him smoking a bong. The group said on Tuesday that it will be "standing by Michael."

The Phelps deal would pay him more than $1 million to promote the Mazda 6 in TV, print and public appearances all over China. But even if DMG keeps him, Mazda might not. Mazda China's management is "currently ensuring that they fully understand the true facts of the situation," a spokesperson said.

We hope it decides to take a more relaxed attitude towards Phelps' alleged transgression. The war on marijuana is one of the dumber crusades the world's governments have enacted, and if it were up to us, he never would have apologized in the first place. Though, now that he has, at least the IOC isn't being draconian about it.

Source: Edmunds Inside Line