South African TV station M-Net is no longer running a series of ads using Oscar Pistorius to promote the Feb. 23 broadcast of the Oscars after Pistorius was charged with murder on Thursday. The twitter account for M-Net issued a statement on Thursday, “Out of respect and sympathy to the bereaved, M-Net will be pulling its entire Oscar campaign featuring Oscar Pistorius with immediate effect.”
Oscar Pistorius arrested: Sponsors issue statements after murder charge
A South African TV station has stopped running its ads that feature Oscar Pistorius to promote the Oscars after the double-amputee sprinter has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend.
US PRESSWIRE
M-Net is far from the only sponsor of the double-amputee Paralympic star who became an international sensation when he ran in the London Olympics. The Nike ad featuring Pistorius and the phrase, “I am the bullet in the chamber,” has been removed from his personal website, but Nike itself has not commented on the sponsorship. They released a statement, “Nike extends its deepest sympathy and condolences to all families concerned following this tragic incident. As it is a police matter, Nike will not comment further at this time.”
Another Pistorius sponsor, British Telecom, told the Wall Street Journal that it would “await the outcome of the South African police investigation.” His representatives at Oakley have yet to issue a comment.
Ossur, the company that makes the fiberglass blades that Pistorius runs on, has yet to discuss the charges. CEO Jon Sigurdsson said, “it is completely premature to discuss or speculate on our business relationship with him.”
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