Sanitarium has moved to explain why images of Aussie NBA star Josh Giddey were removed from social media posts promoting Weet-Bix on Monday night.
The six-foot-eight Oklahoma City Thunder point guard currently has an ambassador deal to promote Weet-Bix worth a reported $40 million across four years.
On Monday however the 21-year-old could no longer be found on social media accounts promoting the breakfast product, as first reported by Code Sports.
The move comes as an NBA investigation hangs over the head of Giddey following allegations made against him.
Giddey questioned on social media claims | 00:38
Sanitarium, the company that owns Weet-Bix, explained the reasoning behind the move on Tuesday in a statement to Code Sports.
“We know how hard negative social media comments can be for anyone, especially for young athletes,” the statement said.
“We removed promotional assets featuring Josh Giddey from our own channels out of a desire to minimise opportunities for negative commentary towards Josh while the NBA is looking into the current situation.
“It was not a precursor to any decisions on Josh’s contract as a Weet-Bix ambassador. We are still in contact with Josh’s management team and awaiting on the facts surrounding this matter.”
The NBA has confirmed to news.com.au it is ‘looking into’ allegations levelled against the Oklahoma City guard.
Images, first posted online on Thursday, featured Giddey with a young woman, in one of the photos he is shown standing shirtless behind her.
Videos have since circulated on X, formerly Twitter, showing Giddey in multiple different locations.
In one video he’s supposedly talking to the girl’s brother, in which he says: “I’m here with your beautiful sister.
“Good luck for your season. I hear you’re going to Sacramento soon for a game so best of luck. We’re going to come up and watch you take care of business.”
In another video, where she appears to be standing in the background outside a nightclub, Giddey says: “What’s up my man? We’re at the front of the club, me and my girl, about to head back to mine.”
The legal age to attend a nightclub in the United States is 21.
A further video shared over the weekend, taken from inside a nightclub, shows Giddey on the dancefloor with a female dancing in close proximity in front of him.
The NBA announced they were looking into the allegations on Saturday (AEDT) before Giddey suited up for the Thunder against the Philadephia 76ers on Sunday.
Giddey was cheered by the OKC crowd and didn’t seem affected by the off-court drama, playing a solid game in the Thunder’s 127-123 loss to Philadelphia.
The Thunder return to action on Wednesday when they go up against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 12pm (AEDT).
