Good Good Golf, Callaway Golf apologize for ad showing man shoving woman to the ground
Two major golf brands have apologized following backlash over an ad that showed a man forcefully shoving a woman to the ground.
Callaway Golf and Good Good Golf, a golf-focused entertainment company, each issued separate apologies for the ad, which was posted on social media last week to promote a co-branded driver.
The online ad featured Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark and Alexis Miestowski, a former collegiate golfer who now works with Good Good Golf. In the video, Clark is seen running after and shoving Miestowski to the ground after she reaches for the driver in his golf bag.
"Do not touch my new driver," Clark says to Miestowski, leaning over her as she lies on the ground.
Later in the ad, another man pulls the driver out of the golf bag and takes swings with it while Clark looks on.
Good Good Golf removed the ad from social media after it received backlash for promoting violence against women. In an apology posted on Saturday, the company said the video "ultimately depicted actions that are not aligned with our values as a brand."
"We have since taken that content down, and sincerely apologize," the company said. "Good Good has always stood for making the game of golf more inclusive to all, and we will continue to ensure that is our mission moving forward."
Good Good Golf declined to comment further to ABC News. A source close to the company said Tuesday that its leaders plan to donate to an organization that supports women and plan to bring more voices into the creative process, while also upgrading its approval systems.
Callaway Golf also issued its own apology and posted a message on social media Tuesday from the company's CEO.
"While the video was produced by Good Good, it was approved by Callaway prior to posting. That approval should never have happened," CEO Chip Brewer said in the statement. "Mistakes were made, and we are taking the matter very seriously."
Brewer said Callaway has launched investigations into the matter and "made changes to our approval processes aimed at ensuring this will never happen again."
"As we deal with the consequences of our mistake and complete our investigations, I want to make it clear that we sincerely apologize for the video," Brewer continued. "The content was inappropriate and does not reflect our values. To be clear: We are unequivocally against discrimination, domestic violence, or threatening behavior of any kind."
Callaway Golf also declined to comment further when reached by ABC News.
The company is an official partner of both the Ladies Professional Golf Association and the Professional Golf Association.
Since 2020, the number of female recreational golfers has grown by 45%, compared to a 12% rise among men, according to the National Golf Foundation. In total, women comprise 28% of all recreational golfers in the U.S.
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