A controversial ad from YouTube channel-turned-golf brand Good Good Golf, promoting a co-branded Callaway driver and featuring Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark tackling a woman, has left a dark cloud hanging over the brand\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
Intense backlash led to the ad\u2019s swift removal, but the damage was done: Callaway reportedly\u00a0removed<\/a>\u00a0the co-branded line from its site, and\u00a0Golf Channel postponed<\/a>\u00a0the premiere<\/a> of the latest season of the Big Break x Good Good reality show after a sponsor balked.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we saw was concerning;<\/a> it\u2019s clearly not aligned with PGA Tour values,\u201d PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said of the ad and Good Good\u2019s response. \u201cWe take it very seriously. I think their initial response was very disappointing. It was a bit defensive and late.\u201d<\/p>\n Following the initial \u201cdisappointing\u201d<\/a> response, Clark posted an eight-minute apology<\/a> and explanation to X on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to first start by saying I personally want to apologize for playing the role in this skit, in this ad, at the magnitude that I did,\u201d Clark said in the video. \u201cAnd then, on Good Good\u2019s behalf, on [the] Good Good marketing team\u2019s behalf, I wanted to say an apology as well because this is not at all what we stand for.<\/p>\n \u201cThe way that this ad was received is not how Good Good is, and it\u2019s not what we stand for. I want everyone to know that. I do not support DV [domestic violence] or abuse or any of that of any kind.\u201d<\/p>\n Heartfelt as Clark\u2019s apology may have been, the bad news for Good Good continued on Thursday, with Callaway announcing that it had taken the next step by completely cutting ties with the brand and would donate $1M to causes that prevent violence against women.<\/p>\n \u201cOver the last several days, we have listened and reflected deeply on the hurt and disappointment caused by the video we re-posted,\u201d Callaway\u2019s statement read.<\/p>\n \u201cWe heard from individuals who shared personal experiences related to violence against women, and their stories were powerful reminders that this issue touches the lives of far too many people. Unequivocally, violence against women is unacceptable and should never be trivialized, normalized, or used as entertainment.\u201d<\/p>\n