The Flack highlights changes and trends in the news, examples of communications practices, and content we at BYRNE PR thought you might find useful.
We hope you enjoy, and we always welcome your feedback.
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PGA of America CEO on Ryder Cup Verbal Abuse: ‘We Will do Better’ – The United States got embarrassed by the European team last weekend at the Ryder Cup in New York. But that wasn’t the only problem. American fans verbally abused European players throughout the tournament, and their primary target was Rory McIlroy. McIlroy won both his matches Saturday while hearing lewd insults about his personal life, homophobic slurs and a steady stream of expletives during his backswing. His wife, Erica, also had a drink land on her. Now the PGA of America is in full crisis mode. The Athletic explains.
The Company Behind Tylenol Tries To Navigate Its Latest Crisis – Kenvue, a Johnson & Johnson spinoff, is facing a PR crisis over unproven links between Tylenol (acetaminophen) and autism, amplified by President Trump’s claims. Despite decades of research showing no causal link, the company’s stock dropped 17%. Kenvue asserts scientific evidence refutes the claim and highlights acetaminophen’s safety for fever relief in pregnant women. It’s not the first crisis the brand has faced. The New York Times has the story.
Fireworks In Himalayas Spark Outrage, Forcing Outdoor Brand Arc’teryx To Apologize – The sight of a multi-colored fireworks exploding in the foothills of the Himalayas has sparked a furious environmental backlash, prompting a local government investigation in China and forcing global outdoor apparel brand Arc’teryx to issue an apology. Arc’teryx stated the event contradicted its commitment to outdoor spaces and pledged a third-party environmental assessment. Chinese state media remain critical, questioning the sincerity of the brand’s apology and its proposed actions. CNN explains.
The Debate Style That Propelled Charlie Kirk’s Movement – Charlie Kirk’s debate style, characterized by “Prove Me Wrong” tours, became a cornerstone of his conservative movement and a template for social media personalities. He crafted viral content by tackling hot-button issues, orchestrating shareable moments, and delivering a consistent hard-line message. The New York Times explains how he did it.
For Fox News Authors, The Path To The Best-Seller List Is Fox News – Don’t look now, but Fox News is quickly becoming a juggernaut in the world of book publishing. The network’s book division, Fox News Books, has published 16 titles, and all have made national bestseller lists. Of course it doesn’t hurt for the authors to receive extensive on-air promotion to the network’s massive audience. This article explains how they’ve done it and where it may go from here.
Bot Networks Are Helping Drag Consumer Brands Into The Culture Wars – The controversy surrounding the Cracker Barrel logo change and brand repositioning blew up incredibly and unusually fast, and it wasn’t your imagination. It turns out AI-powered bots drove 44.5% of the X posts about the brand’s change, and those posts generated media coverage and consumer backlash. This quickly turned into a full-blown PR crisis resulting in the brand apologizing and abandoning its plans. This is just the latest example of how AI-powered bot networks are targeting consumer brands, escalating culture war issues and impacting reputation. The Wall Street Journal digs into this new world.
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Feed Your Head:
Has Your Starbucks Barista Been Acting Especially Friendly Lately? Here’s Why.
The 25 Most Influential Magazine Covers Of All Time
Spraying Roundup On Crops Is Fine. Really.
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flack
: one who provides publicity
flack
: to act as a press agent or promoter for something
The word flack was first used as a noun meaning “publicity agent” during the late 1930s. According to one rumor, the word was coined in tribute to a well-known movie publicist of the time, Gene Flack.