During the Super Bowl, MINI started a new campaign called ‘Defy Labels’ to reinvent itself and appeal to a new demographic. The ads featured celebrities such as Serena Williams and US soccer star Abby Wambach among others. The collaboration between the BMW-owned brand and the latter VIP might come to a sudden end.
On Sunday, Wambach was arrested in Portland, OR after running a red light and failing a DUI test. Her blood alcohol content was not released by the Portland Police Bureau but her attitude was described as ‘polite and courteous’.
Soon after, MINI took a stance and immediately released a statement claiming the brand is ‘re-evaluating’ its relationship with the star, following the recent events.
“We’re obviously concerned about the alleged DUI attributed to Abby Wambach. This behavior is against the values we promote as an organization and the safety of everyone on the road is a priority here at Mini,” the company said in an official statement obtained by Automotive News. “Because of this, we are re-evaluating her association with the brand and are pulling content that individually features Abby from our marketing. We will continue to assess the situation and weigh our options.”
Interestingly enough, the 35-year-old star was driving a 2014 Land Rover Range Rover, not a MINI at the time of the unfortunate event. Furthermore, she already issued a statement on her Facebook page, claiming responsibility for her actions and apologizing to those that she might’ve hurt with her actions.
