hoLLy goSSip

A few days after Johnston & Murphy’s newest endorser David Duchovny checked into rehab for being addicted to sex, the retailer removed his poster from a store window.

Last week, Duchovny, 48, of The X Files fame announced he is suffering from sex addiction and decided to check into rehab for treatment.

Following his confession, the high end shoe retailer made the decision to remove in-store ads that featured the actor, who has two children and has been married to actress Téa Leoni for 11 years.

According to the NY Post, Johnston & Murphy on Madison Avenue abruptly yanked the endorser’s poster from its store window.

One employee reportedly said, “We got the call from corporate this morning to take him down.”

The ads are part of a print campaign to be launched in September issues of popular magazines including Esquire and Forbes. The adverts show Duchovny wearing Johnston & Murphy sportswear and shoes accompanied with leather goods. The text on the poster read: “Johnston, Murphy & Duchovny.”

Brandweek reports that the materials are part of the company’s strategy to rejuvenate the 157-year-old brand to portray “a fresher, more dynamic and relevant image in the marketplace, as well as promote emerging categories such as luggage, small leather goods and outerwear.”

Just a suggestion. How about changing the tagline to:

Johnston, Murphy & Duchovny. The Sexy & Trendy Addiction.

Makes sense?

But really, what do people care? What matters is that they get fashionable, comfy and reasonably priced apparel.