Weet-Bix reveal the surprising reason Josh Giddey has been WIPED from their social media amid speculation he’ll lose $40million cereal deal over alleged relationship with a minor
- The NBA star’s sponsorship is reportedly in jeopardy
- Weet-Bix has sponsored him since 2021
- Giddey is under investigation by the NBA
The company behind Weet-Bix has explained that Josh Giddey has been removed from all their social media in an attempt to shield the Australian NBA star from ‘negative commentary’ as he faces an investigation into his alleged relationship with a minor.
The Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard is under intense scrutiny from the league after the allegations surfaced when photos of him with a girl were recently posted on social media.
That has sparked speculation that he is in danger of losing his $40 million sponsorship deal with the famous Aussie cereal brand.
Giddey has been one of the faces of Weet-Bix since his lucrative four-year contract began in 2021, leading their ‘Every Bite Counts’ campaign.
Giddey was one of the faces of Weet-Bix until news of his alleged relationship broke and the company behind the popular breakfast cereal removed him from their social media platforms.
Now, parent company Sanitarium has explained the reasoning behind removing the 21-year-old from all their social media platforms.
“We know how difficult negative comments on social media can be for everyone, especially young athletes,” Sanitarium said in a statement Tuesday.
“We have removed promotional material featuring Josh Giddey from our own channels out of a desire to minimize the potential for negative commentary toward Josh while the NBA investigates the current situation.
‘It was not a precursor to any decisions regarding Josh’s contract as Weet-Bix ambassador.
“We are still in contact with Josh’s management team and awaiting the facts surrounding this matter.”
On Monday, Sanitarium said only about the scandal: “We are of course aware of news surrounding Josh Giddey and are awaiting confirmation of the facts.”
Parent company Sanitarium explained that they wiped out Giddey (pictured in Philadelphia on November 25) to spare him from ‘negative commentary’
The 21-year-old (pictured playing in Chicago last week) could be in danger of losing his $40 million sponsorship of Weet-Bix, which began in 2021
Other Australian athletes signed up to the breakfast brand include Socceroos great Tim Cahill, tennis star Alex de Minaur and World Cup-winning cricketer Marnus Labuschagne.
Giddey’s face is also on Weet-Bix boxes across the country.
The Australian has become one of the Thunder’s most important players since being selected sixth overall in the 2021 NBA draft.
Last February, he stunned NBA fans by breaking a record that had stood for 61 years.
At 19, he became the youngest player in league history to post a triple double — double figures for points, assists and rebounds — when Oklahoma faced the San Antonio Spurs.
Giddey’s historic achievement made him the first rookie since Oscar Robertson in 1960-61 to achieve triple-doubles in three straight games, and the only player to ever do so as a teenager.