Pfizer hired Pele to direct a contentious Viagra commercial
Later, Pele stated at the time that he had never used the substance himself. However, the football player received widespread criticism for appearing in the commercial.
In Sao Paolo, Brazil, on December 29, Pele, one of the greatest football players to ever live, passed away after a protracted battle with colon cancer. His career highlights, such as the contentious Viagra commercial he had made for Pfizer and which garnered a lot of backlash at the time, went popular on social media not long after his passing.
When Pele Did A Viagra Commercial, Advertisement Video Goes Viral
Many football supporters have argued that Pele’s promotion of products like Coca-Cola and Viagra soiled the history of the sport by being too commercial. His endorsement of Viagra was the most contentious of these, shocking many of his admirers.
Watch the advertisement here:
¿La vacuna de Pfizer? En 2002, Pelé promocionaba las virtudes del Viagra fabricado por ese laboratorio. pic.twitter.com/gk8OB4PN5s
— En Una Baldosa (@enunabaldosa) November 9, 2020
Pele had stated at the time, though, that he had never used the medication himself and only wished to end the stigma associated with erectile dysfunction. “At first, I was quite surprised that Pfizer called me. In Brazil, many of my friends warned me to be cautious and to find out what the genuine message and campaign are. But while I was in New York, I learned everything there was to know about the global situation, and I decided it would be beneficial to take part, he stated at the time.
Although he received a lot of backlash for promoting such a thing, his name being attached to it ultimately helped destigmatize a problem that many people are reluctant to admit. Pelé discussed how Viagra encourages men to treat such health issues seriously.
“During the campaign, we discuss taboo topics. Men don’t talk about their problems all that often,” according to Pelé. “This is not cultural, despite what I assumed. In Japan, we launched the campaign. Japanese people are significantly different from Europeans or Brazilians.”
The loss of the legend is mourned worldwide
On Thursday, football lost a great legend in the form of the Brazilian (December 29). He held several records, including being the youngest player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup and winning three FIFA World Cups. He is arguably one the best players to ever lace up a pair of boots.
As the legendary Pele passed away at the age of 82, celebrities like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr, Kylian Mbappe, and others sent their condolences online.