Pocket gay Tom Daley is reportedly “developing his media career” after his bisexuality propelled him into the international spotlight last year.
Since announcing his relationship with American screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, the 19-year-old Olympic diver as found hosting work on the UK’s Splash, and now, he’s dabbling in the fashion world as the newest face of Adidas’ NEO brand. As the brand’s first UK representative, he’ll front the brand new “Live Your Style” campaign.
But contrary to some of Tom’s greatest work as a nearly nude model, his appearance in the NEO brand’s “fresh prints and colors” is surprisingly tame. He’s fully clothed throughout the entire shoot, modeling “jumpers” and jeans while staying completely dry, a.k.a. booooring.
Tom says:
It’s great to be working with adidas on their NEO label. It’s a fun collection and it’s constantly changing. The jumper I wore for the NEO shoot is one of my favourites at the moment. It’s a twist on a standard jumper and it’s exactly what I like to throw on after training with a pair of jeans.
Tom will reportedly be wearing his new NEO threads on the UK’s Splash finale later this week, but definitely not at the FINA Diving World Series in May! Daley also made headlines this month for refusing to dive in the prestigious competition, held in Moscow, in order to protest Putin’s anti-gay legislation.
So far, we’d say you’re on a great start to becoming an athlete-turned-media-personality, Tom. Let’s just work on your pronunciation of “Adidas”:
http://youtu.be/Ln1u55d7YB8
Cam
Tom Daley is boycotting a diving wold series competition in Russia over their anti-gay laws. This is in the main press in Britain, why would you leave that out???
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/tom-daley-reportedly-set-to-boycott-diving-world-series-event-in-moscow-in-a-protest-against-russias-antigay-laws-9118745.html
Matthew Tharrett
@Cam: Try reading past the headline next time.
Cam
@Matthew Tharrett:
You mean the hasty stuck on few words at the end of a fashion article that point out that a major out gay athlete is boycotting Russia in complete opposition to sell outs like Johnny Weir?
Yeah, I can sure see why you would want to bury that. FAR less important than fashion.
Matthew Tharrett
@Cam: Yes, that’s precisely what I meant. Glad you read the article before returning to comment.
Icebloo
Tom Daley is just another dumb sports “star”. Adidas has a TERRIBLE track record on gay rights and employee rights. Tom is happy to ignore that and just take the money for himself. SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME !
Gays should have been boycotting Adidas instead of helping promote their homophobia.
Spike
WTF, Tom Daley wearing clothes, what a waste of a post.
Stache1
@Icebloo: I just googled them. Extremely low rating with the HRC. Any lower and they’d be as anti gay as NOM. Seems that this is just a new PR move for them.
Cam
@Matthew Tharrett:
Look at Icebloo’s comment, you had a chance to make people on here see him as something different, but lost that chance.
Fitz
“clothes for the victim in all of us”.
vboy
As a German and Adidas being a German company I must say he pronounced it very well! However, I am already used to Americans trying to tell me how to pronounce the company’s name. lol
By the way, you guys wrote Nike’s NEO in the text and later state Adidas…
thumbs up for Tom on standing up to Russia’s anti-gay laws!
Stache1
According to HRC they (Adidas) have a rating of 15. Contrast that to a company like Apple with a rating of 100.
dougmc92
suprised he’s boycotting anything- his bf has a policy of boycotting nothing and has been to Russia recently…good to know Tom’s not being completely Svengalied. Sad- thanks to quacka/Pyro, though, I can’t see this guy’s name without feeling sick to my stomach!
robho3
What is it with Queerty’s obsession with this guy?
Tracy Pope
@Spike: I know, right? Where’s the nudity? The gossip? The snarky comments? Oh, never mind about the snarky comments…
@vboy: Not all us Americans pronounce it incorrectly.
HRC’s rating aside, I think there are better brands and someone shilling for them who is LGBTQ isn’t going to change my mind.
Stache1
@Icebloo: $500,000 is what he’s getting from this. Not a bad take though.
dougmc92
of course- Tom has competed and vacationed in the UAE- His management is based there….Arab world discrimination against gays is way worse than Russia’s.
QuintoLover
@Icebloo: That’s disappointing. Their shoes are the most comfortable shoes I’ve worn. So much better than Nike.
CCTR
@Stache1: Coca cola has a rating of 100 as well, and that company has been in the Queerty news for some things lately
CCTR
@Icebloo: maybe he is simply ignorant to the facts of their “terrible track record on gay rights and employee rights”…maybe this marks the beginning of their commitment to turning things around for the better…just a thought
dougmc92
@CCTR: well- his bf is SUPPOSED to be a big wig in the gay rights movementment- we were all told DLB would be guiding young Thomas through the wicked thorns of gaydom- I guess he’s failing!
Respect4all
@Stache1: HRC has a pretty low rating with me as far as human rights are concerned. They only care about getting more privileges for rich, gay, white men. Just wait. When the Supreme Court rules in favor of federal gay marriage rights, HRC will start endorsing Republicans.
Cam
@Respect4all:
HRC gave Target a 100 after they donated to the anti-gay folks, and actually HRC got angry when they were called out over it. Finally after a HUGE backlash HRC claimed they were going to change the ratings system somewhat.
vboy
@Tracy Pope: That’s really good to hear 😉
balehead
Chris Mears would look hawter in this…..