Celebrity Endorsements

This may not be about retirement…but it is about being old.

Growing up, the celebrities I trusted most endorsed cigarettes.  Someone paid them and they then told us it was in our best interests to smoke that particular type of cigarette.  Think about that for a moment.  Those trusted…often beloved…endorsers helped millions of people to start or continue a habit that greatly endangered or maybe eventually cost them their lives.  

Now days celebrities tell me exactly what kind of alcohol I should drink.  I’m thankful I do not drink alcohol…but if I ever decide to take it up…Johnny Depp is out there pointing me in the right direction.  And, as you may know, his life seems to be enhanced and improved the more he drinks.  I’m glad he has my best interests in mind.

And the biggest thing today…celebrities telling you and I how to vote.  Let’s think about that for just a moment.  They do not know you nor I…nor do they know our situations, needs from government, concerns.  They are in the highest paid part of the top one percent of the one percent.  Some, and certainly not all, have been through rehab, may or may not be well educated.  They seek your attention.  They feel they know more than you do about your own self. They may or may not have a money motivation to preach what they preach (we now see who gets jobs and support in entertainment and who does not…often because of their politics).  They probably think they are 100% right and their actions are ok…and so did the celebrities telling you to smoke their brand.

Just saying…one thing I have learned from getting older is to absolutely never listen to any celebrity endorser for anything.  Either they are being paid or they can not possibly know my or your needs and situation…or both.  Why even mention this situation?  I can not help but notice that retirement aged people are heavily targeted for celebrity endorsed products.  The celebrities are the people you and I grew up loving and trusting our whole lives…and now they are kind enough to tell us just exactly what we should invest in, purchase or use.  Oh…by the way…they are being paid for their endorsements…just like their fellow celebrities were paid by Lucky Strike Cigarettes and the like.  Pay them no mind…they are just trying to get richer and richer and have absolutely no knowledge nor concern for your well being.

Celebrity endorsements…worse than worthless.

Aloha.

 

 

 

7 Comments

  1. Trudy on December 3, 2018 at 3:48 pm

    So true, thank you for stating the truth effectively



    • Don Hurzeler on December 3, 2018 at 4:24 pm

      Just struck me after I saw a celebrity on tv ranting and raving about how stupid we are that we hadn’t elected a candidate he endorsed…what fools we are. This after he had at least two big stints in rehab, a famous drug and alcohol habit, failed marriages, failed business dealings and many embarrassing public missteps…and we are the fools. I think at some point some of these celebrities just lose track of reality and begin to think that they are the only ones on earth smart enough to figure out what is best for everyone. They are not. Aloha.



  2. Mariann on December 3, 2018 at 4:33 pm

    Just think about all that life insurance they want us to buy!! No benefit to us at all!!



    • Don Hurzeler on December 3, 2018 at 4:53 pm

      And I love the ones that push the annuities and reverse mortgages. I would love to see Oprah or someone interview them (before they have been coached) on the benefits and cautions for these various products…I would pay to watch that show. Aloha.



  3. Jeff on December 3, 2018 at 4:52 pm

    As someone getting closer to retirement, I agreed 100%! Also, I thought all the celebs were leaving the country after the last election… not a chance as they wouldn’t get paid to try and sell us something from somewhere else. Love your wit and wisdom Don.



    • Don Hurzeler on December 3, 2018 at 6:25 pm

      And I love your support…thanks. Got to admit that I figured out that they were getting paid for their endorsements early on and it made me suspicious. I guess I secretly hoped that this was their favorite product or service and it was just good stuff that it all came together that they could endorse that deal. Nope…just money. I have heard so many running backwards when something goes wrong saying that they really didn’t investigate it on their own and just read what was put in front of them…how is that for ethical? What really gets me going is the singular focus of our celebrities in all things political. I would feel the same way if they all supported the Republicans…which they do not. If a celebrity tries to go against the collective thinking of Hollywood…there is big time hell for them to pay. And…now this is going to show the really cynical side of me…I feel so much of their political leanings and endorsements are a form of misdirection. I think they feel that they are obvious targets for the hatred of the masses due to their high pay and privileged lives…so they do all they can to show their solidarity with the masses…while all the while they are living behind gates, in homes with safe rooms and high security systems, with armed security, paid for extra protection from fires, flying in high carbon footprint private jets and calling for clean air, no guns and equality. They have no intention of being the equal of the masses…or of even the middle class. They are elitists through and through and they may just feel they can head fake us with their carefully calculated “support” of popular positions. I have no problem with them being ultra rich and privileged while I am not…they have been paid the going rate for what they do and I was paid the going rate for what I did. I don’t want their “stuff” nor do I think they should be forced to re-distribute it. I don’t even feel they should feel guilty for having so much…assets, income and fame. What I do not like is their either air headed or carefully calculated support of things that they probably know little about…and that I guarantee you that they know nothing about how those things might affect you or me. To me, it is arrogant, elitist and…from my cynical side…self serving. Aloha.



  4. Ray Siebert on December 4, 2018 at 10:16 am

    I never did pay attention to them. But know I do the opposite of whatever they say or are pitching. It’s the curmudgeonly thing to do. 😁