Comedian and “America’s Got Talent” judge Howie Mandel has joined Skechers as its newest brand ambassador.
In a new campaign unveiling the partnership, Mandel recounts an amusing story on how Skechers “caught him red-handed” trying to score a discount on a pair of the shoe brand’s Hands Free Slip-Ins by claiming he was a ambassador — when he wasn’t.
Caught on camera, the comedian’s story resulted in the brand’s version of a golden buzzer: an official invitation to join team Skechers and appear in a marketing campaign inspired by the original pair he grabbed in his serendipitous visit.
“What can I say — they caught me red-handed because I was thinking with my feet,” Mandel said in a statement on Tuesday. “This is penance for trying to get away with that discount — but honestly, their comfort is worth it. I’ve been a devoted fan of the brand for years, so the thought of shooting Skechers ads in Skechers Hands Free Slip-Ins — and having a new footwear wardrobe — is the kind of payback I’m thrilled to have.”
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“America’s got Skechers—and now Skechers has Howie Mandel! The way we found him buying our new Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins was so funny, we’re making it his inaugural Skechers campaign,” added Skechers chief executive officer Robert Greenberg, who was sent a photo of Mandel at the Skechers store.
Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers, added that Mandel possesses a magnetic personality that has endeared him to millions. “We’re glad that his life has changed for the better since discovering our Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins, and that he wants to share our message of comfort with the world,” he said.
A comedian, television personality, actor, and producer, Mandel’s wide-ranging career includes the voice of Gizmo in “Gremlins” and “Gremlins 2: The New Batch,” the role of ER resident Dr. Wayne Fiscus on the NBC medical drama “St. Elsewhere,” and creator and star of the Fox children’s cartoon “Bobby’s World.” The longtime host of the game show “Deal or No Deal,” he has been a judge on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” since 2010, and Citytv’s “Canada’s Got Talent” since 2022.
Mandel joins a star-studded roster of global Skechers ambassadors—from music icon Snoop Dogg, lifestyle legend Martha Stewart, and TV and fitness personalities Amanda Kloots and Brooke Burke to former professional athletes such as Tony Romo, Howie Long and Sugar Ray Leonard.
Plus, the brand’s roster of elite pros around the world currently competing in Skechers footwear includes NBA basketball players Joel Embiid, Julius Randle and Terance Mann; golfers Matt Fitzpatrick and Brooke Henderson; soccer players Harry Kane, Mohammed Kudus and Oleksandr Zinchenko; baseball players Clayton Kershaw, Aaron Nola, Chris Taylor and Brendan Donovan; and pickleball pros Tyson McGuffin and Catherine Parenteau.
