Earvin Magic Johnson Case Study

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Earvin “Magic” Johnson is a renowned former Los Angeles Lakers player and popular basketball personality. During his 12 years in the game, Johnson received numerous awards, was named Most Valuable Player multiple times, and played on the NBA All-Star team. According to sports writer David Dupree, “the statistics, the championships, and the individual awards barely scratch the surface of Johnson’s value as a basketball player and his contribution to the game. He was an innovator the consummate team player who had the rare gift of making all those who played with him better.” He was widely sought out to be a spokesperson for consumer products.

During a press conference on Thursday, November 7, 1991, Johnson revealed that he …show more content…

Symptoms:
1. There is uncertainty on how this revelation should be handled
2. If kept on, marketing campaigns would have to be modified
3. If dropped, corporations face severe public backlash
4. The public and corporations voiced their admiration of Johnson’s courageous actions ii. Root Causes
1. Johnson announced that he tested HIV positive
2. Johnson decided to retire from the NBA and become a spokesperson for HIV
3. Executives are unsure of how Johnson’s announcement of his illness will affect the nature of how he is portrayed in advertisements
4. HIV is highly stigmatized and corporations do not want their products associated with the disease
5. Many other athletes have been dropped from endorsements when their health or life took a turn for the worse iii. The decision facing the advertising and sports marketing executives is whether or not to drop Johnson from his spokesperson contracts following the announcement of his illness.

C. Decision Criteria and Alternative Solutions
a. A solution is effective if it mitigates the uncertainty faced by advertising and marketing executives on how they should proceed with Johnson’s contracts, in light of the announcement of his illness. The solution must also be empathic so that public backlash is minimized, profitability of Magic Johnson endorsed products is preserved, and the change in Johnson’s profession are

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