After the shocking release of a photo of Michael Phelps smoking weed was released to the public via News of the World he issued this statement:
"I engaged in behavior which was
regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. I’m 23 years old and despite
the successes I’ve had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and
inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me.
For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not
happen again."
It is true that he’s ONLY 23 and probably a lot younger mentally since he worked constantly in order to get ready for the Olympics, but does that excuse the bad example he set for his younger fans?
This goes to show you that some of the blind items are true!
Poor guy… He’s just trying to enjoy a little of what he has left of his young years. I am sure this guy worked hard his whole life to win all those gold medals, and smoking a little hash won’t ruin it all. Leave him alone and let him enjoy some peaceful relaxation. It’s not a big deal at all. People over exaggerate, it’s not like he was doing a serious drug like cocaine or herion… now that is crossing the line.
I really think that those who keep saying “oh big deal” don’t understand that he’s just blown a lot of things for himself. For the typical person, smoking weed isn’t a huge deal but for someone who stands to lose millions of dollars in endorsements and possibly just blew the 2012 Olympics..it IS a big deal. I think he got REALLY caught up in the glamour of being the “golden boy” and all the parties, etc. It’s understandable because he’s young but unfortunate because so many young people look up to Olympic athletes as role models.
How about we DON’T CARE !!! Really do you think weed alone will ruin his endorsements? He’s done some heavy partying, since the day after he won all he medals? He’s been photographed partying with tons of girls and drinking lots alcohol in LA and Vegas. That should account for some bad publicity too!
It’s not a big deal- he’s got a couple years to clean up his act till the next olympics anyway…
How about we DON’T CARE !!! Really do you think weed alone will ruin his endorsements? He’s done some heavy partying, since the day after he won all he medals? He’s been photographed partying with tons of girls and drinking lots alcohol in LA and Vegas. That should account for some bad publicity too!
It’s not a big deal- he’s got a couple years to clean up his act till the next olympics anyway…
It was stupid on his part to let himself get caught in public like that. If he is going to do it behind closed doors, and no one is the wiser so be it. Between his DUI and bringing his stripper girlfriend home to meet mom, and now this, he has the maturity level of a 15 yrs old. When you have million dollar endorsements and are still going for the gold in 2012, you don’t break the law. Whether or not you think weed is nothing, it is still ILLEGAL in the US. Plus I’m pretty sure this a no-no in the Olympics organization. This very well could be the last straw for him.
Sorry I don’t think it’s a big deal, either. They should just legalize the stuff already.
I agree with you 100%, CapturingLife…
it isnt his job to set examples for younger fans. his careeer isnt fan-based, like a musician’s or an actor’s. he is an olympic athlete whose only job is to train when he needs to and win medals. as long as this doesnt interfere with his ability to train and win, who the hell cares? id like to see some of the pissed off prudes have a child who is the winningest ever olympian. he wants some bong hits, great. fine. he deserves them. if he has so many bong hits that it prematurely ends his career, great, he deserves that too. it’s up to him, as an adult to know when is enough.
Wow someone really sold him out by taking and selling that pic.
I actually find it kind of disapointing in a way… I just think it’s a shame that someone who has SO much going for him would just even take the chance of losing it all for some weed. He is an incredible athelte, you can’t argue that, but why even take this chance? he’s 23, he has his whole career infront of him!
I agree with 98% of you when you say “Who Cares”. Celebrities and Athletes are photographed doing much worse that is legal, but just because it is legal it’s okay. Pot is harmless…really and people should stop being criminalized for it. Someday this will change, but when? If anything he should be a role model to normal average American kids, who try pot and still go on to be successful at whatever they try to do.
“youthful and inappropriate way”?!?! Not everyone who’s young acts this way. The reality is that he might be 23 but he’s also considered an adult who has multi-million dollar contracts with companies who are banking on his “good boy” image. No matter what you think about weed it’s still illegal here so deal with it.
Too bad there was a rat at the party that sold the pictures for money. I hope he chokes on the money. Give Michael a break. I am in my 50′s and most of my generation has smoked pot or worse. The majority of us turned out to be fine up standing and law abiding citizens. We all make stupid mistakes when we are young, that’s how we learn and grow. I would also go so far as to say that most athletics (professional and college) have smoked pot in the off season one time or another. Smoking pot is no worse than drinking alcohol and it is all right for athletics to have their pictures taken with drinks in their hands. Isn’t this also bad for the kiddes to see???????? For all those better than thou folks, I have one thing to say, “Come off your high horses, I am sure you have committed some inappropriate behavior in your younger years that you do not want plasted in the rags. Hopefully, you learned from your mistakes and was lucky it was not made public. Give these young people the same courstesy!!!!”
Honestly, my advice is that if you’re doing something questionable do not get photographed!
First off, I dont smoke pot, I am not a fan of Phelps & I dont even really like the guy & his giant, ugly, horse head & annoying lisp, but I must say a few bong hits never killed anyone. There are tons of successful, professional people out there who smoke marijuana, it’s not the end of the world & it should just be legalized already. Alcohol is waaaay more damaging to lives than pot. Sure, Phelps may lose endorsements, so it’s a good thing he has already made millions. He has been the golden boy since the olympics, so I somehow feel his apology will cover his ass.
it’s not crack people – who cares? and, i am pretty sure he didn’t say, “hey, dumbass – please take a pic of me taking a bong hit, but don’t show anyone!”….i don’t even care for him either, but let it go people, NOT that big of a deal! LEAGALIZE IT ALREADY!
I think would have been worsed if he was photographed drinking like a pig,since no one has ever OD or died from weed use,can’t say the same about alcohol,i don’t even know why is illegal,i know actually but seems many people don’t.Is time to legalize cannabis!
I think he’s only sorry that he got caught!
I agree with everything you just said. I also think he doesn’t need to say sorry and can smoke up if he wants!
some people take their fame and and make something positive out of it. this ugly man took his fame and money and decided he is a God and started dating asian hookers and smoking pot. this is how you measure a man, he is just a loser who got his chance. this is specifically for people who never had class and are basically trash. money does not change people (unlike power) it merely shows you as you are.
so are we going to be using the lowest common denominator?
Vera, you got me obsessed about Twilight! I saw it for the first time here and I read all the books in one week! If there is any info about it, PLEASE post it! It was Awesome. Thank you for all you do. I like you website its the one I go to cause its clean and fun and doesn’t become too intrusive to the stars we all love. Tbanks!
I don’t see any problem with this. I don’t smoke pot and I could care less if Michael Phelps does. People see him as a role model? He’s a swimmer and he’s 23. Give the guy a break!
23 is plenty old. You are an adult and old enough to make all decisions and be held responsible for them. This man is getting paid hefty to be a role model for millions of kids who look up to him. But he wants to have his cake and eat it too. At 23 you can drink, vote, have children, start family, be a US Marine and go to war…and you are not old enough to know that smoking pot does not exactly add any more braincells???? Give me a break! The problem is this apology is a PR campaign, and he is a trash of a human being. Period.
I agree but I am drug user and a brothel worker. I get paid for sex and think it should be legal along with drugs and all the vices. It is a natural human tendency, we need to be able to have sex and get paid, get wasted and feel good about it. Who cares that society needs some order in order to function? Individual needs are greater that any good any order can bring to a society.
I don’t see any problem with this. I don’t smoke pot and I could care less if Michael Phelps does. People see him as a role model? He’s a swimmer and he’s 23. Give the guy a break!
Honestly I don’t think it should be such a big deal (maybe because I’m from Canada where marijuana is decriminalized). It’s a bit of weed, it’s not like he was smoking crack. I think as far as his athletic career goes, the olympic’s should concentrate on monitoring performance enhancing drug use (like steroids), not recreational marijuana usage.
I feel bad for the him… he’s a college aged guy having to make a public apology for something regular people get away with all the time.
Agree, but again I’m from Canada haha.
Not going to lie, I think he deserves some relaxation! I dont find this that big of a deal. Now if you are a hard core fan then I can see how this is dramatic. But he’s extremely hard working and super busy…I say let him kick back once and a while. Next time, Phelps, just make sure no one has a camera!
relaxation?? One generation ago sport figures worked much more for much less. Everybody is just getting to uncomfortable to move even a finger without 24rest in between and demanding more money.
He also had a DUI when he was 19.
he is just a peace of trash who got money and fame.
I love you guys! I expected to click the comments and see a bunch of over puffed “how could he!” comments. I don’t understand all the hub bub with weed anyway. It’s NOT a narcotic. No one had to cook it up for him in his kitchen. Here we are hoping that Amy Winehouse has a successful recovery from CRACK (which has negatively affected her career) when this poor YOUNG guy is just trying to kick back and relax after training all his life and winning 10 gold medals. It’s not illegal for me to burn cabbage in my kitchen (thank goodness bc I can never get the steamer set properly) I say ‘whatever’ to all the affronts about burning any other plant.
yes, weed is not a narcotic to you since your body is so full of that crap you cannot feel any difference. Weed IS a drug and it is a narcotic that alters your mental state. Enough of this weed propaganda.
you often wonder if he really deserve 8 gold medals….he probably did drugs back then….shame shame shame.
Are you kidding?!? I doubt he was using then since they were drug tested, but if he was, Bravo to him for winning the 8 medals while smoking pot.
There is nothing wrong with a little recreational weed, since he is a role model for some it could be a problem. He apologized to appease the mini van majority and his sponsors.
there is nothing wrong with a little prostitution, heck a little heroin, well a bit of meth…well, a little of everything we desire…..as long as we want it nothing is wrong with it. Ok degraded people, walking zombies, I would like to see how this country degrades in a generation or 2. We do not even need jihadists, we can destroy ourselves. And while we are high a little weed and crack at a local college partying all day and night here and there, we have people from Pakistan and India come here to work as engineers. And we will be fine as janitors…..
I agree too, but then again,I’m from The Netherlands…
I agree but I am drug user and a brothel worker. I get paid for sex and think it should be legal along with drugs and all the vices. It is a natural human tendency, we need to be able to have sex and get paid, get wasted and feel good about it. Who cares that society needs some order in order to function? Individual needs are greater that any good any order can bring to a society.
I agree but I am drug user and a brothel worker. I get paid for sex and think it should be legal along with drugs and all the vices. It is a natural human tendency, we need to be able to have sex and get paid, get wasted and feel good about it. Who cares that society needs some order in order to function? Individual needs are greater that any good any order can bring to a society.
I agree. Michael Phelps could be an inspiration. Instead, he is a trash of a human being.
And this coming from someone who had never been on the other side of the fence. I hate when people give their opinion on something that they know nothing about. Drinking alcohol kills braincells just as much or even moreso than smoking marijuana. Just because drinking is legal, your not talking your smack about it. H-I-P-O-C-R-I-T-E. He is a grown man and he can do as he pleases.
oh,shit up and go stick something in your uptight as*,dammit what a psycho,we got it that you never reached orgasm in your life,stop taking it out on us,how many more posts from you can we expect,please find a banana or a cucumber or anything,just SHIT UP!