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‘Let’s Go Brandon!’ Driver Brandon Brown Says Sponsors Avoiding Him
Brandon Brown, the NASCAR driver who inspired the “Let’s Go Brandon!” catchphrase, is having difficulty getting sponsors. He thinks his association with the phrase prevents him from getting sponsorships.
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Brandon Brown Dealing With ‘Let’s Go Brandon!’ Effect
Brandon Brown’s popularity took off when he won a NASCAR race last October 2. However, the popularity he gained wasn’t from the race.
Instead, it came from a post-game interview where an NBC reporter made the world-famous faux pas. Brown appeared on TV to comment on his victory at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama Saturday when the crowd erupted into chant mocking President Joe Biden.
NBC Sports reporter Kelli Stavast misheard the chants coming from the crowd as supportive for Brandon Brown.
Instead of the actual “F**k Joe Biden,” Stavast said that the crowd yelled “Let’s go, Brandon!” over the background. “As you can hear the chants from the crowd, ‘Let’s go, Brandon.’” she remarked.
No Sponsorships Because of “Let’s Go Brandon’
As a result, “Let’s Go Brandon!” became a household word. However, the NASCAR driver that served as inspiration, said that the phrase haunted him.
Instead of getting offers for the usual endorsements, Brandon Brown said that the nationwide phrase made it “extremely difficult” for him to seal deals with sponsors.
Ironically, Brandon Brown said that he is not a political person. Instead, he just wants the entire “Let’s Go Brandon! go away.
“It got extremely difficult for us. If you’re a national corporation, that means you sell to all consumers … and unfortunately, when you get dragged into the political arena, people want you to take aside.
I’ve never been put in a position where it’s, ‘OK, what side are you on? Left or right?’ So it’s hard for a brand to want to attach to somebody who might be kind of divisive in their consumer base. If I’m going to divide Coca-Cola, why would they want to talk to me?” he said.
“So the short answer is it’s been tough to connect with partnerships just because it’s kind of viewed as a ticking time bomb.
‘What is he doing to choose or say and how would that affect our consumer base?’ It’s too much of a risk. I understand it on their side but it’s made it really hard to tie everything down.”
Brandon Brown Forced To Take Action Against the ‘Let’s Go Brandon!’ Phrase
As a result of the difficulties, Brown admitted to taking action against some people using the phrase. However, he has yet to send cease and desist letters to those using his name on merchandise.
But, he admitted that in some cases, his team had to ask people to take down his name or his likeness.
Brown also said that NASCAR gave him counsel on how to deal with the situation. NASCAR President Steve Phelps left word at his state-of-the-sport press conference in November.
He said that the league will protect its marks against unofficial merchandise made around the phrase. Brown admitted that both he and NASCAR are in the same boat. He said nobody has the answer right now.
Watch the NPC Shorts video reporting that Brandon Brown of Nascar Can't Find Sponsors:
What do you think of the ‘Let’s Go Brandon!’ phrase and its effect on Brandon Brown? Does Brown deserve not getting his full rewards as a NASCAR driver because of the phrase?
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