started · updated
Good Good Golf executives ousted after controversial Callaway advertisement
Good Good Golf has undergone a major leadership shakeup following intense backlash over a controversial advertisement. CEO Matt Kendrick and President Joe Flannery have both departed the company. Additionally, the firm’s VP of Brand and Marketing, Jeffrey Lefkovits, was dismissed.
The controversy stems from a co-branded promotional video for a Callaway Golf driver. The advertisement, which was intended as a horror movie parody, depicted co-founder Garrett Clark shoving fellow creator Alexis Miestowski to the ground. Critics condemned the content for trivializing domestic violence against women.
The fallout has been extensive for the golf media brand. Callaway Golf ended its three-year partnership with Good Good and pledged $1 million to organizations preventing violence against women. Good Good has also stepped back from its title sponsorship of a PGA Tour event in Austin, Texas, and saw its products removed from major retailers including Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Golf Galaxy. Furthermore, the Golf Channel canceled a planned reality series involving the group.
Nahid Giga, a co-founder and early investor, has been named interim CEO to oversee the company’s transition.
Entities
Callaway Golf · Good Good Golf · Joe Flannery · Matt Kendrick · Nahid Giga
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Matt Kendrick indicated he is not opposed to suing Callaway Golf. brobible.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Good Good Golf removed a controversial advertisement and issued an apology. www.tekedia.com · www.nytimes.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Co-founder and investor Nahid Giga is serving as interim CEO. www.nytimes.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Dick’s Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, PGA Tour Superstore, and Target pulled Good Good apparel from their shelves. www.tekedia.com · www.nytimes.com
- [DISPUTED] Golf Channel postponed its competition reality show featuring Good Good until 2027. www.nytimes.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] CEO Matt Kendrick and president Joe Flannery are no longer with the company. www.nytimes.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Callaway Golf ended its partnership with Good Good and pledged $1 million to organizations preventing violence against women. www.tekedia.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Former CEO Matt Kendrick claimed he had not seen the advertisement before it aired and blamed the marketing team. brobible.com · www.nytimes.com