Gwyneth Paltrow, Sydney Sweeney, and Gavin Casalegno all starred in viral ads this week – but not everyone was laughing. From Ryan Reynolds’ agency pulling off a cheeky Coldplay callback to two surprising genetics-themed campaigns from American Eagle and Dunkin’, this week has been a masterclass in marketing missteps… or maybe marketing genius?
In this episode, I break down three campaigns that tried to ride the cultural wave and ask the question every marketer should be asking: When does clever cross the line?
This isn’t just about ads – it’s about backlash, brand identity, and how quickly public sentiment can shift.
In this episode, I cover:
- Why Astronomer’s celebrity response ad worked (and where it may backfire)
- How American Eagle and Dunkin’ waded into controversy with a single word
- What Bud Light’s lingering sales drop teaches us about brand backlash
- Why some brands shouldn’t respond, even if they can
- Whether controversy is becoming the go-to strategy for standing out in 2025
Links:
- Gwyneth Paltrow ‘Thank you for your interest in Astronomer’ Ad
- ‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ American Eagle Ad
- Dunkin’ ‘King of Summer’ Ad
Do you have a question or just need to vent about your marketing frustrations? Send it to [email protected], and I might just answer it in a future episode.
FRUSTRATED BY YOUR MARKETING? is hosted by Jim DeMicco and presented by SkyeLine Studio.
LET’S CONNECT: LinkedIn | Website | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter/X