Marketing mishaps from major brands reveal the critical importance of PR coordination with marketing efforts and careful forward planning to prevent campaign disasters.
• Zara's campaign featuring mannequins with missing limbs was filmed before the Israel-Palestine conflict but released during war coverage, resulting in widespread criticism
• Negative sentiment towards Zara surged from 13% to 76.4% following the incident
• Nike initially refused to sell Mary Earps' England goalkeeper kit despite her popularity
• After public outcry and a petition with 150,000 signatures, Nike reversed course and the kit sold out immediately
• Bud Light's partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney faced transphobic backlash
• The company's vague response failed to support Mulvaney, alienating both conservative customers and the LGBTQ+ community
• Bud Light suffered a 15% drop in revenue and lost its position as America's top-selling beer
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