Executives at Callaway and the YouTube golf brand Good Good have been dismissed in the wake of a controversial advertisement that faced widespread criticism for allegedly depicting domestic violence.
Alex Upegui, Callaway's director of content and production, is reportedly leaving the company. Upegui had held the position since 2023 and was considered the highest-ranking Callaway employee with the authority to approve the ad. Callaway CEO Chip Brewer stated on August 25 that the company was conducting internal and external investigations and had already implemented changes to its approval process to prevent future incidents.
Two days later, Callaway announced it was severing ties with Good Good, citing an insufficient content review process. The company stated it had taken corrective actions and strengthened its approval procedures.
Good Good has also terminated its vice president of brand and marketing, Jeffrey Lefkovits, with another unnamed employee also reportedly being let go. The company's CEO, Kendrick, acknowledged the mistake, stating that the "buck stops with me" and that better processes should have been in place. He added that while the intention was not to trivialize or support violence, the execution was flawed and perceived negatively.
The advertisement, created for the Good Good-branded Callaway Quantum driver, was intended as a spoof of the horror movie 'Obsession.' The opening sequence showed Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark body-checking fellow member Alexis Miestowski as she reached for the driver, leaving her on the ground while Clark warned her not to touch the club. The rest of the ad featured other members seemingly becoming possessed by the club.
Following the backlash, Clark issued an apology video, calling the commercial the "worst ad known to man."
The controversy has led to several business repercussions for Good Good. Their upcoming show with The Golf Channel, initially announced as postponed, has now been canceled altogether. An unnamed sponsor had requested its branding be removed from the show before The Golf Channel made the decision to scrap it. The show was set to be a reboot of the reality competition series 'Big Break.'
Additionally, Good Good has withdrawn its title sponsorship of a tournament in Austin, Texas. The event, previously branded as the Good Good Championship, is now listed as the Austin Championship on the PGA Tour website, which is evaluating its ongoing partnership with the YouTube group.