Has Rihanna Scandal Damaged Cover Girl Brand?

BATAVIA, Ohio (AdAge.com) -- Is Procter & Gamble Co.'s Cover Girl suffering from spokeswoman Rihanna going back to her alleged batterer Chris Brown? Rival Revlon wants to know, according to celebrity blog TMZ.com. Spokeswomen for Harris and P&G couldn't immediately be reached for comment. An assistant to a Revlon spokeswoman said, "As far as I'm aware, we have no comment," but the spokeswoman could not immediately be reached. According to TMZ, the survey features a current Cover Girl mascara TV ad featuring Rihanna, then asks respondents if they have heard about her in the news lately and whether they have an opinion on if she's an appropriate spokeswoman for the product. Permanent news fixture Rihanna, 21, and Mr. Brown, 19, have been in the news since they canceled an appearance on last month's Grammy Awards. A police photo showing a battered Rihanna circulated widely, and Mr. Brown was later charged with two felony counts of assault. But according to reports, she has taken him back. Even Oprah Winfrey has weighed in on the subject, saying on a recent show, "If a man hits you once, he will hit you again," and adding that Rihanna's story sets a bad example for young women. Rihanna has been a spokesmodel for CoverGirl for three years amid a strong run for the brand, which has gained more share, particularly in eye makeup, than any other mass brand in the past year. Her Cover Girl-sponsored "Umbrella" video alone has generated tens of millions of online views. The brand's agency is Grey Global Group, New York. The singer has been an endorser for P&G brands since she was 17, starting well before she fully broke out to national celebrity, doing mall appearances for the Secret deodorant brand.

Has Rihanna Scandal Damaged Cover Girl Brand?

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