Not long after losing major sponsors Speedo USA and Ralph Lauren, Ryan Lochte has been dropped by skin-care firm Syneron-Candela and mattress firm Airweave.
Syneron-Candela is the parent company of Gentle Hair Removal, who was one of Lochte’s top four sponsors going into the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The skin care company released a statement not long after Speedo and Ralph Lauren, noting,
We hold our employees to high standards, and we expect the same of our business partners. We wish Ryan well on his future endeavors and thank him for the time he spent supporting our brand.
Originally Airweave seemed like they would be the one to keep Lochte on, stating, “Lochte will remain a US ambassador for Airweave as long as our partnership agreement remains effective,” but after careful consideration the company decided to also drop Lochte, expalining to E! News that,
Airweave is a proud sponsor of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams and our dedication to athletic achievement is unwavering. Our endorsement agreement with Ryan Lochte was in support of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. After careful consideration, we have made the decision to end our partnership with Ryan Lochte. We remain committed to supporting Team USA and the athletes preparing for the Paralympic games.
Lochte and his public relations firm issued a statement after the announcement from Speedo, where he explained,
I respect Speedo’s decision and am grateful for the opportunities that our partnership has afforded me over the years. I am proud of the accomplishments that we have achieved together.
Full ESPN report can be read here.
Jeez give the guy a break.
He’s still a fugitive on the run. He still needs to settle his crime with Brazilian authorities and pay the fine in form of a donation.
He deserves every bad press he gets. And the USOC authorities were in it with him, so all the more reason to keep the spotlight.
And his other three pals are liars too. Did any come forward at any time to explain Lochte was lying? No.
The only good act by these racist clowns is that Feigen has been obliged to give 10K to a charity. And now Speedo pledges 50K to a children’s charity, instead of on this Lochte idiot. A much better way to use their money, for sure.
This is a ridiculous statement. You need to get your facts straight. I think the cover up was awful by the two countries.
You Americans do seem a bit vindictive
All that performance with Efimova who might be a bit dodgy but was given the benefit of the doubt by WADA and CAS and was hardly the most egregious offender like say Gatlin
Alright Lochte’s a major league twat but he s been a wonderful ambassador for your country until now.
He’s in enough trouble anyway. No need to kick him while he’s down
Try to stay on topic Veronica.
Americans are good at two things… Deifying undeserving people…then crucifying the same people because it turns out they are human (self-centered jerks). I thought the kid was a real moron but I’m beginning to feel sorry for him. We love to kick people when they’re down!
Additionally, the article clearly shows that the four swimmers were, in their opinion robbed. The money was taken from them not as compensation, but for their “attitude”, according to the witness/translator. (Now the vigilante justice system and overwhelming criminal activity in Brazil by the Brazilian “security guards” in this case becomes much more clear). According the article, Brazilian Judge João Batista Damasceno now does not discard the possibility that the guards’ actions could be RIGHTLY INTERPRETED AS ROBBERY. He says, “If they only asked for the amount of the damage, it may not be a robbery. But IF THE AMOUNT TAKEN IS HIGHER than the value of the damages, WITH THE USE OF A WEAPON by the ‘security,’ THIS IS ROBBERY.” Damasceno added, “even if someone has the right to receive compensation, that DOES NOT MEAN THEY CAN determine the amount on their own and take actions such as DRAWING GUNS TO COLLECT. Brazilian law rarely allows for a person to obtain such a payment through the use of their own force – such disputes should be mediated by the state.” Deluz, the interpreter, said a station employee had established the cost of the damage at 100 reais for the damaged sign, but the swimmers were forced to pay about 160 reais, – 100 reais plus a $20 bill. (Interesting omissions by the corrupt and lawless Brazilian authorities during their press conference, and ironic that portion of the video was deleted or missing and IS STILL NOT BEING RELEASED upon request.)
And the “security guards” that flashed the badges and pulled their guns…they too should be prosecuted for breaking the Brazilian law since Police Chief Veloso admitted during a Thursday news conference the men are state agents – it is common for Brazilian law enforcement to carry out private security on their off hours, though (as has been confirmed through other sources for prison guards like these) it is ILLEGAL. So here we have “security guards” performing an ILLEGAL function, flashing their badges ILLEGALLY, and holding/extorting money from people ILLEGALLY at gunpoint, according to the Brazilian Judge. Seems as though the rampant corruption and crime in Brazil is pervasive throughout the entire law enforcement community and extortion is common in order to not get shot (or by law enforcement to not have your travel records in INTERPOL ruined).
So much of Lochte’s story, although embellished, was true. And all of Bentz’s and Conger’s is confirmed by the investigative reporting. Brazil ought too look in the mirror and solve its own massive third world problems that have rightfully earned it a reputation as the most crime ridden country in the world before trying to manipulate facts to its advantage about a couple of people going to the bathroom; then being held up and robbed at gunpoint by corrupt people for more than damages; followed by extortion for a crime that did not exist. IT IS WONDERFUL THAT IN THE END TRUTH WILL PREVAIL!
Ditto!!!! Well said!!!!!
I guess Lochte needs to double his medal count to be given a pass by Speedo like Phelps was for smoking marijuana. I say, he who is without sin, cast the first stone….this whole thing was ridiculous, overblown, but Brasil is making a lot of $$ from Speedo and the swimmers. I forgive both swimmers. They are only human. It was a sign, not a bathroom…sheesh.