17609: Converse Defender Tells Everyone To KKKalm Down.

 

Adweek published yet another perspective on the Converse lynching controversy, allowing an author to figuratively hang himself.

The color commentator closed by remarking, “I fully expect this column to incur similar wrath from the sanctimonious corners of the internet where offence is easily taken and blame must then be immediately apportioned.”

Okay. Challenge accepted.

For starters, the author seems oblivious to having assumed a stereotypical role in the matter. That is, he’s the Angry Old White Guy.

It’s a waste of time attempting to school the culturally clueless. Although it’s particularly annoying in this case, as the author boasts having a PhD in Marketing and hypes his MiniMBA programs.

He’s clearly out to educate the masses versus consider the opportunity for a teachable moment. Self-absorption always trumps self-enlightenment, self-improvement, and self-awareness.

The final proclamation underscored his ignorance: “It just requires everyone to calm down.”

Yes, calm down despite once again experiencing the lashing disrespect of an industry historically mired in systemic racism.

Calm down by being told how to respond to offensive material by a bona fide representative of the offenders.

Calm down when even the unintentionally biased avoid accountability as intentionally as card-carrying KKK members.

From Converse to Ed Sheeran, Let’s End These Tedious Apology Tours

Converse, Oxford United, and Ed Sheeran all got dragged through the same ritual for mistakes that were accidental or not even theirs

By Mark Ritson

It was a rotten week for Converse. 

On Sept. 3, the Nike-owned brand posted a new campaign on social media for the Chuck 70 X built around Karina, the very famous singer from K-pop group aespa. 

In the key image she stands in a long white skirt, wearing the shoes and holding a second pair in one hand, framed by a spotlight cut in the shape of the Converse star.

Two weeks passed.

Then, someone noticed that the edge of the star projected onto her skirt made a shape a bit like a Klan hood. And that the shoes hanging from her hand could be read as a body. Then a second image surfaced, from Converse Malaysia, of models on a ladder reaching for sneakers strung from a tree branch. 

The two pictures welded together online into a single verdict.

Converse was now running “the most racist ad of the season.” The work was “shocking,” “abhorrent,” “repugnant.” Even if it was unintentional, the fact that it had gotten past legal, marketing, and leadership was itself an unforgivable offence.

Converse apologized within a day, pulled everything and promised to do better, but not enough for Louisiana Congressman Troy Carter. 

“Lynching is not a creative concept. The Ku Klux Klan is not an aesthetic,” he raged. “This campaign should never have been created, approved or released.” Nike and Converse, he said, should explain publicly how the images had passed through their approval process.

Step back from the heat for a second. Nobody seriously thought, for even a moment, that a Korean photographer shooting a Korean pop star for the Korean market was evoking the Klan. It was an accident. And the instant the claims were made, Converse said sorry, and pulled the work. 

Which prompts a question nobody in the pile-on bothered to ask. 

What else was Converse meant to do here?

It didn’t matter, though, as a wrong had been done, and offence taken. It didn’t matter whether it accidental or not, or whether an apology had already been offered.

Penalties must apply. 

The same script ran in England last week around the same time at Oxford United, a third tier football club. The team was founded in 1893, and a new range of American college-style clothing celebrated the fact with UNITED across the shoulders and a big 93 beneath it.

The collection went live on Sept. 11.

Almost immediately, someone inside the club worked out what a United 93 shirt looks like on the 25th anniversary of 9/11. The range and the posts promoting it were gone within two hours. That should have been the end of it.

It wasn’t. A week later, the club was being roasted on CNN, ESPN, and the Washington Post and had issued a full confession. The shirts “should not have reached the point of sale and we take full responsibility for not undertaking proper due diligence.” Again, nobody suggested any of this was deliberate. And again, the mistake was fixed within hours. But still an apology was required.

Then there is Ed Sheeran

On Saturday night, Sheeran delivered the most extreme entry in this new genre: an apology for something he demonstrably did not do. 

In Philadelphia, before playing a note, he stood in front of 60,000 people and said, “I am making mistakes and I’m so, so sorry.” 

He was apologizing for a rapper’s politics, a stadium owner’s ban, and a promoter’s decision, none of which were his, to an audience that just wanted to hear Shape of You. 

A man who has spent his career steering clear of every political issue going found himself in the middle of the most intractable one on earth. Through no fault of his own he found himself apologizing.

We have reached a very low point. The combination of crisis management, the fragmentation of culture and the insidious effects of social media have turned this decade into an unpleasant, sanctimonious place. Where the only option for innocent people is to eat humble pie with a double serving of reputational rescue slathered on top.

Converse set out to offend no one, and when it did, it made amends the same day. Oxford United made an awful accidental mistake and fixed it immediately, then apologised anyway. Ed Sheeran just wants to play music but must first apologize for things he did not do and does not understand. 

I fully expect this column to incur similar wrath from the sanctimonious corners of the internet where offence is easily taken and blame must then be immediately apportioned. 

Real harm, deliberately done, deserves an apology and consequences, and brands that drag their feet deserve everything they get. A mistake with no intent behind it deserves a correction. That’s all. 

“We’ve withdrawn it” is a complete sentence. It does not need “we understand.” It does not need “we’ll do better.” It just requires everyone to calm down.

17605: On Exposing Ugliness Of PepsiCo Pageantry.

 

More About Advertising published a lengthy perspective titled, “Ad agency pitch theatre is not a sport, but a beauty contest,” providing a probing analysis of PepsiCo global media duties shifting from Omnicom to Publicis Groupe.

The title poses two inherent flaws.

First, the PepsiCo business was awarded sans pitch. To play off the content concept, a winner was crowned without having to appear in the swimsuit competition—or any other pageant event. Indeed, it’s unclear how the decision was made, rendering the entire affair suspicious and potentially scandalous.

Second, the opinion piece was illustrated by the AI-generated image depicted above. A more accurate cartoon would have presented three Old White Guys, an Asian man, and a White woman. It’s an exclusive—and not very pretty—spectacle.

17393: Whitewashing Mr. Clean Retirement…?

Adweek reported the retirement of Mr. Clean was a campaign stunt after all.

 

Just goes to show that despite accusations of ageism in Adland, Old White Guys rule—and the Whiter, the better.

 

Mr. Clean Returns From Retirement After Just 2 Weeks With a Product Glow-Up 

 

The P&G brand is the latest to ‘kill off’ and resurrect a mascot.

 

By Brittaney Kiefer

 

Mr. Clean recently sent the internet into meltdown when he announced his retirement as the eponymous mascot of Procter & Gamble’s cleaning supplies brand after 68 years. 

 

But the bald, buff character couldn’t stay idle for long. Today (March 4), after just two weeks in retirement, Mr. Clean is back to usher in a new era for the brand.

 

Mr. Clean’s return introduces a major product overhaul, including the biggest upgrade to the Magic Eraser in 20 years, a new shower and tub scrubber, and new scents for the multi-purpose cleaner lineup. 

 

A film revealing the mascot’s comeback rolled out on Mr. Clean’s social channels. The brand is also hosting an “unretirement” event in New York City, where media and creators can see product demos.

 

“I’m proud to share that I’m back,” Mr. Clean said in a statement. “I tried to stay retired, but the ideas got too big. The magic of cleaning called me back.” 

 

The departure and subsequent return of the larger-than-life cleaning icon, who made his TV debut in 1958, came to life through a social campaign created by PGOne, Publicis Groupe’s bespoke unit for P&G, and led by PR and communications agency MSL.

 

Mr. Clean announced his retirement on Instagram and TikTok on Feb. 18, with a video in which he wears a Hawaiian shirt and stands behind a lectern at a faux press conference. He later shared a screenshot from his iPhone’s Notes app, confirming that “the rumors are true” about him stepping out of the limelight.

 

“I’m saying goodbye to the world of cleaning in pursuit of new hobbies,” he wrote, signing the note “Veritably,” his first name.

 

Mr. Clean’s retirement garnered headlines in outlets including The New York Times, Forbes, USA Today, and E! News. A P&G spokesperson said at the time that the brand wouldn’t be changing its packaging, hinting that the figure’s exit might only be temporary. 

 

In his two weeks out of work, Mr. Clean posted about how he was keeping busy, like training for a marathon and doing crossword puzzles. His new hobbies sparked inspiration for the brand’s latest product innovation.

 

In a partnership with Zillow, the brand created a listing for Mr. Clean’s four-bedroom Maui retirement pad, now that he’ll no longer need it.

 

Brand mascots keep ‘dying’ and coming back

 

Mr. Clean is just the latest brand to temporarily retire their mascot.

 

Last year, language learning app Duolingo killed off its green owl Duo via a collision with a Tesla Cybertruck. Just a week later, Duo was resurrected. 

 

And in 2020, Planters’ Mr. Peanut supposedly met his end in an explosion of his vehicle, the NutMobile. He was later reborn in a Super Bowl commercial as Baby Nut, proving that reincarnation is real, at least in the world of brand mascots.

 

These mascot antics are part of a trend of brands developing their characters as social media personalities who can appeal to younger audiences.

17389: Mr. Clean Makes Clean Break…?

 

E! News reported—or published corporate public relations hype—on the apparent retirement of Mr. Clean.

 

It’s likely a lame campaign stunt. After all, retiring a beloved White critter has received public backlash in recent years, as evidenced by the unretirement of the Cracker Barrel Old Timer.

 

No way will Mr. Clean be allowed to fade away, especially once news of his erasure reaches the brand’s significant White supremacist—er, supermarket—constituents.

 

Expect Old White Guys and Old White Gals to cry Mr. Clean is the victim of ageism too.

 

Mr. Clean Announces His Retirement After 68 Years on the Job

 

The Mr. Clean brand shared that its mascot, also named Mr. Clean, would be retiring after nearly 70 years. But it seems the bald icon has some exciting plans for the future.

 

By Brahmjot Kaur

 

Mr. Veritably Clean is putting down the magic eraser. 

 

After all, the Mr. Clean brand confirmed that its bald-headed mascot has stepped down from his role after nearly seven decades.

 

“It’s true, Mr. Clean has announced his retirement,” the company announced in a Feb. 18 TikTok video. “After a career with zero stains on the record, he’s ready for new adventures. But don’t worry, his products will continue to be available to support all your cleaning needs.”

 

And he’s already on island time. While Mr. Clean—who was introduced by the company in 1957—opted for a blue Hawaiian button-down at the press conference, his iconic white shirt was displayed in a frame alongside the podium. He concluded the meeting with a mic drop, although he was sure to wipe down the equipment before exiting.

 

The faux press conference was depicted as a live stream, with one user in the video commenting, “End of an era!” Meanwhile, another teased, “He looks too young to retire.”

 

Alongside the announcement, the company shared insight into the future of its cleaning supplies.

 

“While our products will continue to battle your dirt and grime, Mr. Clean, well, first name Veritably, (yes, really), is off to new adventures,” the caption read. “We know his journey will be fulfilling, and we support his decision.”

 

Mr. Clean was also sure to give his own statement after the news.

 

“I’m saying goodbye to the world of cleaning in pursuit of new hobbies,” he wrote in a Notes app screenshot posted on the company’s social media accounts Feb. 19. “Stay Clean.”

 

“I’ve seen it all, cleaned it all,” he added in the caption. “I think it’s finally time to hang up my white shirt.”

 

As for what Mr. Clean has been up to since his retirement? The company shared snaps of their former mascot DJing at a nightclub, hitting the slopes, running a marathon, experimenting in the kitchen and going on hikes.

 

“New hobby, who dis?” the Feb. 24 TikTok caption quipped. “Who said retirement had to be boring… #NewBeginnings #Reset.”

 

And he’s officially going by his first name, Veritably. As the company teased in their Feb. 23 TikTok post, “The name’s Veritably — Mr. Very if you’re clean.”

 

17320: MLK Day 2026 In Adland (Cont’d).

 

President Donald J. Trump acknowledged MLK Day late in the day—after receiving criticism from civil rights groups earlier on Monday that he had failed to recognize the holiday.

 

Based on Omnicom social media, it appears the ginormous White holding company skipped saluting MLK Day, despite being led by Pioneer of Diversity John Wren.

 

Yep, the two Old White Guys continue to earn being named White Man Of The Year 2025.

17122: Cannes Integrity Standards = An Oxymoron.

 

Advertising Age reported Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity created “integrity standards” designed to address scam entries.

 

While the new regulations include banning offenders from the contest for up to 3 years, there are no penalties for associated holding companies.

 

Plus, there are no penalties for identified sexual predators, which undoubtedly angered White women protestors—and relieved lots of Old White Guys.

 

Not surprisingly, integrity is extremely limited at Cannes Lions.

 

Cannes Lions updates awards standards following string of controversies

 

By Brian Bonilla

 

Following a series of controversies that put a black cloud over this year’s festival, Cannes Lions is introducing new “integrity standards” aimed at tightening verification and accountability for future award submissions.

 

The new framework will take effect for all entries for the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and comes in response to the dismissal of award-winning work this year over questions of manipulation and other concerns around submissions.

 

“The industry landscape is changing at lightning speed,” Lions CEO Simon Cook wrote in its statement. “And Cannes Lions is adapting at pace to meet this.”

 

The new integrity standards will require formal approvals from the leader of the entrant company and a senior marketer; introduce a new fact-checking process that uses human and AI review; provide independent measurement experts to juries; set clear rules on AI use; impose a potential three-year ban for misrepresentation; establish a council to oversee “escalated cases;” and provide annual transparency reporting.

 

---

 

Read the five integrity standards below, laid out by Cannes Lions in the festival’s own words.

 

1. Ownership and Authorship

 

Accountability, Partnership and Permission:

 

Every submission must be approved by the business leader of the entrant company and by a senior marketer from the commissioning brand. These declarations confirm that all submissions, including case films, written submissions, data, and claims—are factually accurate, responsibly sourced, and representative of real world events and outcomes.

 

2. Veracity of Claims

 

Rigorous, Two Tier Fact-Checking System

 

A new dual-layer verification system will combine manual checks with AI-led analysis to interrogate the veracity of claims made by each entry. This marks the first time a human + AI hybrid infrastructure has been institutionalized across the global awards to bolster existing measures.

 

Objective, Independent Expertise and Support

 

Cannes Lions Juries will have access to an objective and independent data and measurement expert at their request, throughout judging, to provide further technical scrutiny across impact claims, campaign effectiveness, media impact, and data interpretation.

 

AI Integrity Handbook

 

The AI Integrity Handbook will set a global standard for awards integrity in the age of AI, protecting trust, creative legitimacy and transparency. It will outline what is acceptable, what must be disclosed, and what constitutes a breach. This clear and replicable model* is designed for the use of entrants, jurors, and stakeholders—and encouraged for adoption across the industry.

 

*Informed by OECD AI Principles, Partnership on AI - Synthetic Media Guidelines, and the UNESCO AI Ethics Recommendation.

 

3. Consequence of Misrepresentation

 

Disqualification and Withdrawal

 

Cannes Lions reserves the right to disqualify or withdraw any awards entry at any stage of submission or judging, including after a Lion has been awarded if material misrepresentation is found. This includes the right to request additional documentation or testimony from entrants or clients at the highest level of seniority.

 

Sanctions for Deliberate Misconduct

 

Companies found to have willfully submitted false or misleading work may be banned from participation for up to three years. Jury eligibility may also be revoked. All sanctions will be determined through an independent review process to ensure neutral and objective oversight is prioritized.

 

4. Due Process & Independent Oversight

 

Independent Integrity Council and Due Process

 

All escalated cases will be reviewed by a newly established Integrity Council made up of legal, ethical, and neutral industry experts. Entrants will have the right to respond and appeal within a reasonable timeframe.

 

5. Transparency in Governance

 

Annual Creative Benchmark Integrity Audit

 

To ensure transparency, Cannes Lions will publish an annual Integrity Audit documenting an overview of concerns that lead to continuous improvements to the system that underpins the global benchmark for creativity.

17070: Omnicom Facing Charges Of Ageism & Sexism.

 

MediaPost reported a former TPN CEO filed an age and gender discrimination lawsuit against Omnicom and TPN, charging she was fired as retaliation for complaining about pay disparities between her and male peers at the White holding company.

 

Hey, she probably would have been terminated anyway for redundancy if the Omnicom acquisition of IPG is finally executed.

 

Or maybe Omnicom Group Chairman-CEO-Pioneer of Diversity John Wren declared the holding company would save up to $750 million by acquiring IPG because the corporate combination results in more White women who can be paid less than Old White Guys. Such a bargain!

 

Omnicom Sued For Discrimination By Former TPN CEO

 

By Steve McClellan

 

Longtime former Omnicom executive Ellen Cook has filed an age and gender discrimination lawsuit against the company, and its commerce agency TPN.

 

Cook was the president of the holding company’s commerce agency The Integer Group for 16 years before being named CEO in 2020.  She became CEO of sibling agency TPN when it and The Integer Group merged in 2023.  

 

In her suit, Cook said she was fired in 2024 after complaining about pay disparities between her and several male peers at Omnicom, including her predecessor at Integer Group Mike Sweeney.  

 

She alleged a 44% disparity between her compensation and Sweeney’s despite facing revenue headwinds which came from client losses under Sweeney’s watch. Cook said in the suit she was able to make up the losses and drive double digit revenue gains under her leadership. 

 

She said her firing was retaliatory after she complained about the pay disparity and followed up several times after the company failed to take remedial action.  

 

The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas earlier this week. 

 

The action cites several other lawsuits filed by senior Omnicom women executives in recent years that also alleged discriminatory behavior by the holding company.  

 

Cook is seeking liquidated and compensatory damages, reinstatement or “front pay” if reinstatement isn’t feasible, attorneys’ fees and other costs.

17053: Extending Careers & Competitions In Adland…?

 

Campaign extended the final deadline for its 40 Over 40 competition with a headline proclaiming: We’re giving you more time!

 

The Old White Guys and Old White Gals complaining of ageism in Adland would probably argue they’re not being given more time.

17016: TRG Is Not Too Black.

 

Advertising Age reported TRG is taking the next step in its evolutionary progression, as an Old White Guy will succeed the Old White Guy CEO who replaced the Old White Guy Founder.

 

TRG Names New CEO As Glenn Dady Announces Retirement

 

Longtime principal Pete Lempert is set to succeed Dady on March 31

 

By Lindsay Rittenhouse

 

TRG has named longtime principal Pete Lempert as its new CEO, effective March 31, as Glenn Dady announces his retirement.

 

Dady has been CEO since 2019 and is set to retire after 45 years with the Dallas-based independent agency. Lempert first joined TRG in 1994 and became principal in 1996. He also added the titles of chief development officer and managing principal in 2024, according to the agency.

 

Lempert “has the perfect combination of creativity and business acumen,” Dady said in a statement. “He is a proven leader who has consistently delivered results for our clients while improving the employee experience and culture within the agency.”

 

In his 31 years at the agency, Lempert has led business for brands including Corona, Nokia, Advance Auto Parts, Amstel Beer, Charles Schwab and Orkin.

 

“It’s an honor to lead this incredible independent agency into our next chapter,” Lempert said in a statement, adding that “TRG and the marketplace have shifted dramatically over the past five years. ... We are well positioned for the future, where bold ideas will be nurtured to succeed in a rapidly changing marketplace.”

 

TRG’s current client list includes Charles Schwab, America’s Best Eyecare + Eyewear, Scripps Health, Sewell Automotive Cos., World’s Best Cat Litter and Nature’s Own.

 

TRG rebranded from The Richards Group in 2022, distancing itself from its founder Stan Richards, who stepped down in October 2020 following a racist remark he made during an internal meeting. Dady, who had worked alongside Richards for 39 years and took the reins from him, was tasked with addressing the fallout from the founder’s actions, including a string of client losses and employee departures.

 

Last year, TRG lost longtime client Stellantis-owned Ram, one of the few big-name clients that stuck by TRG after the 2020 backlash. Stagwell’s Doner won lead creative duties for Ram in December following a Stellantis U.S. agency review.