Drew Brees has come under fire over his fake lightning strike commercial.
On Friday, fans initially thought something had happened to Brees when a viral video showed him being struck by lightning while shooting a commercial for Pointsbet.
Video: Former NFL QB Drew Brees was apparently struck by lightning while filming a @PointsBetUSA commercial.pic.twitter.com/7v7tbWFmSN
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 2, 2022
#2Dic | Un rayo habría alcanzado a Drew Brees, exjugador de la NFL, mientras grababa un comercial en el Catatumbo, al sur del lago de Maracaibo, según informó el fotoperiodista Rafael Hernández. pic.twitter.com/ao8pi8fG5J
— La Verdad Vargas (@LaVerdadVargas) December 2, 2022
It eventually turned out that Brees hadn’t been struck by lightning and that it was all just a publicity stunt.
The lightning must’ve thought I was wearing a Falcons jersey, that’s why it tried to get me 😂 I’m fine…Who Dat! https://t.co/lT1L4J0fq4
— Drew Brees (@drewbrees) December 2, 2022
A lightning strike survivors group has since criticized Brees over the stunt and called it “disgusting.”
Via TMZ
“The recent Drew Brees lightning commercial is an inappropriate, disgusting method of promoting gambling or any TV commercial campaign,” the group said in a statement issued to TMZ.com. “This is a deadly injury, and it is disappointing to see the continual ridicule of lightning and electrical injury survivors in comical light in which it is presented for commercial gain and profit.”
Unfortunately for the lightning strike survivors, it appears that Brees Pointsbet’s viral marketing campaign was a success.
Media analysis from @ApexMarketing (Social Media, Newsprint, Digital, Radio & TV) shows @PointsBetUSA garnered $5.7 million in equivalent advertising for Brees Lightning stunt yesterday.
Only $1.5M of that was negative sentiment.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) December 3, 2022