Business & Finance
Callaway and Good Good Golf apologize following backlash over advertisement depicting physical violence
The co-branded promotional video featured a male golfer shoving a female player, drawing criticism from the PGA Tour and online calls for a product boycott.
The short version
- Callaway and golf media firm Good Good Golf issued apologies and pulled a co-branded online advertisement that depicted male golfer Garrett Clark shoving female player Alexis Miestowski to the ground.
- Callaway CEO Chip Brewer acknowledged that approving the video was a mistake and announced an internal investigation into how the content was cleared.
- PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp criticized the advertisement as concerning and characterized Good Good Golf's initial response as defensive and delayed.
- The companies face ongoing online backlash and customer boycott threats, while the PGA Tour continues to monitor the situation ahead of its planned event with Good Good Golf in November.
Key facts
- Callaway and Good Good Golf posted an online advertisement promoting a co-branded driver that depicted Good Good cofounder Garrett Clark shoving Epson Tour player Alexis Miestowski to the ground.[Al Jazeera]
- Callaway CEO Chip Brewer stated that Callaway approved the video prior to posting and launched an investigation into the approval process.[Al Jazeera]
- Good Good Golf removed the advertisement, issued a public apology, and acknowledged the content did not align with its brand values.[Al Jazeera]
- PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp stated the ad was concerning and criticized Good Good's initial reaction as defensive and late.[Al Jazeera]
- Good Good Golf is scheduled to serve as the title sponsor for the PGA Tour's inaugural Good Good Championship in Austin, Texas in November.[Al Jazeera]
What remains uncertain
- The full findings of Callaway's internal investigation and any potential executive accountability actions remain unannounced.[Al Jazeera]
- It is unknown whether the PGA Tour will take further action regarding its partnership or the November championship sponsorship with Good Good Golf.[Al Jazeera]