By Candice Choi, Food Industry Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --A former executive who was in charge of Subway's advertising says he wasn't aware of pitchman Jared Fogle's criminal sexual conduct with minors.
Jeff Moody, who was CEO of the Subway Franchisee Advertising Fund Trust, said in a statement Friday that he was "shocked" to learn of the "deplorable criminal sexual behavior with minors" to which Fogle has agreed to plead guilty.
Moody's statement adds that "like any decent human being" he is "repulsed" by it. He said he learned this summer about the allegations against Fogle, whose relationship with the sandwich chain has ended.
Attorney Robert Beasley, representing former Subway franchisee Cindy Mills, has said Mills shared her concerns about Fogle's behavior with Moody in 2008. He also said Mills shared her concerns with a regional Subway contact in Florida, where she is based.
Beasley didn't respond to calls Friday. Earlier in the day, he said Mills didn't want to speak anymore.
Fogle, who was widely known as Jared or as the Subway Guy, on Aug. 19 agreed to plead guilty to allegations that he paid for sex with girls as young as 16 and received child pornography. The agreement with Fogle released by prosecutors said he will pay $1.4 million in restitution to 14 minor victims, with each victim receiving $100,000.
The government agreed not to seek a sentence of more than 12 1/2 years in prison, and Fogle agreed not to ask for less than five years.
Subway said the same day that it had ended its relationship with its long-running pitchman, who became famous after dropping more than 200 pounds by eating its sandwiches. The company had already scrubbed references to him from its website weeks earlier when his home was raided and authorities removed electronics.
Fogle was married with two children, but his wife filed for divorce the day he agreed to plead guilty.
On Friday, Subway said it was continuing its investigation about any potential concerns it may have received about Fogle.
Beasley has said that Mills began communicating with Fogle after they met at an event. According to Beasley, Fogle told her about paying for sex with minors on a trip to Thailand and paying for sex with a 16-year-old he found on Craigslist. In 2008, Beasley said, Mills shared her concerns about Fogle's comments with Moody.
But according to Beasley, Moody told Mills he had dealt with similar comments and did not want to hear any more. Moody reassured Mills that Fogle had met a teacher who would get him on the right path, Beasley said.
At the time, Moody was CEO of the Subway Franchisee Advertising Fund Trust, which handles the company's marketing. The fund was controlled by franchisees at the time, according to Blue MauMau, a site for franchisees. But after 2010, Subway took control of it.
A representative for Moody, who is now CEO of Rita's Italian Ice, said he was not available for comment beyond his statement.
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More