Big brands can be expected to mismanage a product launch or a campaign now and again, but the past two weeks have produced three especially egregious examples of marketing tone deafness—and that’s being generous.
Neutrogena responded to Hayden Panettiere’s allegations against the brand four days after her death. Target hastily pulled an offensive Halloween costume off shelves. And Good Good Golf has taken down a video that casually depicted violence toward women.
All of the brands have issued mea culpas. (None responded to ADWEEK’s request for comment.) But the incidents leave troubling questions. In the wake of past explosive brand gaffes—Pepsi’s Kendall Jenner spot comes to mind—why do big, sophisticated companies keep offending their own customers?
Mike Kresch, vp of strategy for digital marketing agency Moburst, said that brands have a duty to examine their products and marketing closely before releasing them.
