Jared Fogle—once the face of fast-food chain Subway because he lost weight by only eating Subway sandwiches—was ultimately sentenced to 15 years in prison for child exploitation and possession of child pornography.
Like most brands and marketers, Subway was seduced by what the man did—eat sandwiches—rather than his character and his reputation because behind the scenes, there were already red flags.
Reports later revealed that Fogle had made inappropriate comments about minors to people in his personal and professional circles. A former journalist, Rochelle Herman, claimed she had been warning authorities about his disturbing behaviour for years before his arrest.
The lesson: brands and marketers should prioritise thorough due diligence and character assessment over simply being swayed by success stories or public appeal.
Reputation is still everything.
Build a brand that connects on a human level. Prioritise personal reputation to create trust and authenticity.
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