Derek Jeter sued after he backed out over underwear brand endorsement
Derek Sanderson Jeter, 41, is an American former professional baseball shortstop who played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, is currently in the middle of a multimillion dollar lawsuit with the underwear company Frigo. The lawsuit claims that Jeter signed a 3-year seal to be a director of the company in 2011 and agreed to participate in the major publicity events. Frigo majority owner Mathias Ingvarsson, who filed the suit, claimed that Jeter backed out in 2013 and told Frigo that he didn't want his involvement with the company to be public during the United States launch.
So, the company recruited Rapper 50 Cent to be the brand ambassador instead, while superproducer Timbaland and basketball star Carmelo Anthony were brought onboard too.The lawsuit claims that Jeter allegedly expressed concern that he was not happy with the new celebrity endorsements and that rapper 50 cent's presence as an endorser would make the products too "urban" for the brand, and then reneged on their agreement, supposedly costing the company's valuation to drop by almost US$30 million.
Ingvarsson is now demanding Jeter hand over almost $5 million in damages and is seeking to take the case to arbitration.
Derek Jeter is a five-time World Series champion, Jeter is regarded as a central figure of the Yankees' success of the late 1990's and early 2000's for his hitting, baserunning, fielding, and leadership. He is the Yankees' all-time career leader in hits (3,465), doubles (544), games played (2,747), stolen bases (358), times on base (4,716), plate appearances (12,602) and at bats (11,195). His accolades include 14 All-Starselections, five Gold Glove Awards, five Silver Slugger Awards, two Hank Aaron Awards, and a Roberto Clemente Award. Jeter became the 28th player to reach 3,000 hits and finished his career sixth all-time in career hits and the all-time MLB leader in hits by a shortstop.
