10 Celebrity Endorsers Who Were Caught Being Unfaithful to the Brands That Paid Them

Unlike deals drawn up for professional athletes, celebrity sneaker endorsements typically aren't exclusive ventures.

1.

by Brandon Richard

Despite proclaiming his love for adidas, James Harden was recently caught in a pair of Air Jordans. While he technically wasn't breaking any rules, due to his Nike deal running through the end of September, it certainly wasn't a good look. But it's far from the first time an endorser was spotted wearing the sneakers of a company they weren't being paid by. 

Unlike deals drawn up for professional athletes, celebrity sneaker endorsements typically aren't exclusive ventures. Entertainers are paid to wear and promote a brand's footwear and apparel, but often show up to events wearing product by rival brands. This isn't necessarily the wrong approach though. In fact, we contend that endorsers wearing multiple brands is actually a good thing.

How many celebrities have strayed away from the brands they pitch for? We've put together a list of 10 examples. Check it out and let us know if you see a problem with celebrity endorsers mixing things up.

Big Sean 

2.

Big Sean wearing adidas & Vans

Endorses: adidas

Wears: Vans, Nike, Jordan

The Detroit Player is about as loyal to adidas as a celebrity endorser can be, but he switches things up from time to time. He particularly likes to wear designs by his friend Kanye West, which was made easier by Ye's jump to adidas.


Tyga 

4.

Tyga wearing Reebok & Nike

Endorses: Reebok, L.A. Gear

Wears: Nike, Jordan, adidas

To his credit, Tyge wore T-Rawws damn near everywhere he went for about a year. However, he occasionally stepped out in Nike Yeezys and hooped in Jordans. Since signing to L.A. Gear, he's kept up his multi-brand approach, being seen in adidas Yeezys in addition to his own kicks.


Kanye West 

6.

Kanye West wearing adidas & Nike

Endorses: adidas

Wears: Nike

It was his own shoe, so it's understandable. But Ye was frequently spotted wearing Nikes in the months following the announcement of his adidas deal.


Kanye West 

8.

Kanye West wearing Nike & adidas

Endorsed: Nike

Wore: adidas

Of course, 'Ye also stepped out in adidas a few times while he was designing Nikes. 


Justin Bieber 

10.

Justin Bieber wearing adidas & Supra

Endorses: adidas NEO

Wears: Supra / Vans

The pop star is the face of adidas' youth-focused NEO line, but has been a loyal wearer of Supra for years.


Teyana Taylor 

12.

Teyana Taylor wearing adidas & Jordan

Endorsed: adidas

Wore: Nike, Jordan

Teyana wasn't featured in global campaigns, but she worked on her own adidas shoe and was preparing to drop the second colorway before the relationship abuptly ended. She was always an Air Jordan kind of girl though, and made sure to show us that throughout her time as part of the adidas family.


Wiz Khalifa 

14.

Wiz Khalifa wearing Converse & ASICS

Endorses: Converse

Wears: ASICS, Nike, Jordan

Wiz hasn't given up on his Converse collection, but he's been frequently seen wearing Jordans and Forces. He even broke out a pair of ASICS for a pre-Grammy event last year.


Heidi Klum 

16.

Heidi Klum wearing New Balance & Supra

Endorses: New Balance

Wears: Supra

The German supermodel has been successfully rolling out women's sportswear collections with New Balance since 2010. However, when Heidi isn't working out, she's almost always laced up in Supra.


Rick Ross 

18.

Rick Ross wearing Reebok & Jordan

Endorsed: Reebok

Wore: Jordan

Ross became one of Reebok's most high-profile endorsers when he inked a deal with the brand three years ago. Unfortunately, controversial lyrics and uproar from protestors led to his release a year later. The irony is that he's probably worn more Reebok since being dropped than he did while officially part of the team.


Meek Mill

20.

Meek Mill wearing PUMA & Jordan

Endorses: PUMA

Wears: Nike, Jordan

Meek has been pitching for PUMA since late-2012, but hasn't completely distanced himself from Jordans. He does stick with his brand for the most part though, and this partnership has worked out way better than his old alliance with Reebok.


Lil' Wayne 

22.

Lil' Wayne wearing Supra & Jordan

Endorses: Supra

Wears: Jordan

No less than four models make up Weezy's Supra Spectre line, but that didn't stop him from wearing other brands. He can frequently be spotted sitting courtside at NBA games in the latest Jordan retros.