Derek Jeter Denies Calling 50 Cent Too Urban in Frigo Deal
Former Yankees shortstop, Derek Jeter denies walking away from Swedish underwear line, Frigo, because of 50 Cent's association with the brand could potentially make it too "urban." TMZ reported that the retired athlete was slapped with a $5 million lawsuit after backing out of the deal.
According to the New York Daily News, the 41-year-old says the reports are "categorically false" and blasted Frigo's CEO, Mathias Ingvarsson for going to the media before handling it behind close doors. Nov. 19, Jeter said in a statement, "As a major investor, current stockholder and lender to the Company, I am disgusted by Ingvarsson's decision to make these false allegations against me in the press, instead of attempting to work out our business dispute in private."
The company claims Jeter got cold feet about the deal once they asked the rapper to become the brand ambassador, but Jeter says he was the middleman in it all, "I facilitated the introductory meeting between 50 Cent and the company, so it makes absolutely no sense that I would object to 50 Cent being a Frigo brand ambassador or think that 50 Cent is 'too urban' for the brand."
Jeter expressed that he had no knowledge of the multimillion dollar lawsuit and denies ever agreeing to represent the brand. "[Company CEO Mathias Ingvarsson's] statements are particularly malicious because he knew all along that I never agreed to be a spokesperson or ambassador for the brand, and that is confirmed in documents that Mr. Ingvarsson himself signed," he said in the statement.
