Life is very bad for National Jerk of the Week, Jared Fogle. The former Subway pitchman lost his gig back in April when police conducted an investigation into ongoing child pornography activities that included a visit to Fogle’s residence. Then, last week, it was revealed that Fogle was being charged with child porn as well as sex with minors and soliciting sex with minors. While reports vary, the stories are legion. Bottom line for every lede: Fogle is a monster who needs to be caged.
Let’s just point out that adult pornography is perfectly legal for example visiting online websites like tubev sex Deutsch millions of adults partake in it around the world, whereas child pornography is illegal and so it should be.
You’ll get no sympathy from me. Throw the book at him, then pick it up and smack him with it repeatedly. These sickos need to learn that if they want to indulge in watching pornography, stick to the normal sites like Nu Bay and don’t be a giant weirdo who looks at children.
But, Subway now, those guys have a mess on their hands, not of their creation. Of course, really it is…though it probably isn’t their fault. Nearly two decades ago now the marketing folks at the sandwich chain heard the story of a college kid who dropped an entire human in weight (and then some) eating “only” Subway sandwiches. When they investigated, glory be, it turned out to be absolutely accurate. They could not get Jared on film fast enough.
Every year up to this April, Jared was at the forefront of Subway’s ad campaigns. Sure, they did some other stuff, including the cloyingly addictive five-dollar foot long commercials, but they always came back to Jared. And can you really blame them? He was the perfect combination of miracle story, and Joe Average Makes Good.
Unfortunately for Subway, Joe Average is very evil. Now they are stuck with a big PR problem. Problem 1, how do they replace what was, pretty much, the entire face of their brand. Problem 2, how do they stop the general consumer public from saying stuff like: “You know, Jared the Subway guy who’s in prison for raping kids.”
That risk underscores the inherent danger of making any single “face” definitive to your brand. Jared will never be Jared without Subway, but, Subway has to become Subway without Jared as soon as possible. They need an aggressive all guns firing all hands on deck PR campaign to launch yesterday. Something as connective but very unlike the Jared campaign. It’s a tall order, but they have no choice.
That’s what happens when you hitch your wagon to a mule who wants to drag you into a ditch.
Discover more from Ronn Torossian
Ronn Torossian’s Professional Profile on Muck Rack
GuideStar Profile for Ronn Torossian Foundation
Ronn Torossian’s Articles on Entrepreneur
Ronn Torossian’s Blog Posts on Times of Israel
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