A brief overview of what is currently trending in news, culture, and/or trending hashtags and formats.
#FantasticFourFirstSteps: The trailer for Marvel's newest movie, Fantastic Four First Steps, has been released with fans sharing their excitement for the July release.
#TheBachelor: The latest season of ABC’s ‘The Bachelor’ is picking up speed shocking fans with the newest episode.
Myles Garret: In a shocking move Cleveland Browns superstar defensive end Myles Garrett has publicly requested a trade away from the team.
A deeper dive into a subject that is impacting culture on a macro level, beyond just the social space.
Mascot Mania
What It Is: Tayvis, Brangelina, Kimye, and now…. Grimace and Ellie the Elephant? Celebrity couples have an illustrious history of making headlines and drawing attention and after being spotted hanging out earlier this month it comes as no surprise that rumors about Grimace and Ellie the Elephant began flying. However, we now have confirmation that the two are not together - as well as a look into the reasoning behind the stunt. Coming off such a prolific year for both of these characters, Grimace with the New York Mets and Ellie with the WNBA Champion New York Liberty, it only made sense to combine forces to draw attention to the McDonalds All American Games being hosted at the home of the Liberty, the Barclays Center. However on a grander scale, it’s opened up the possibilities for mascot endorsements moving forward as the Liberty Chief Brand Officer, Shana Stephenson, discussed that the organization is working towards making a rate for partners unique to Ellie and don’t currently have rules in place that require a brand to work with the larger Liberty team to work with Ellie.
Brand Takeaway: For brands with a mascot, pay attention. The success showcased this year has been monumental with characters like Grimace and Ellie drawing in millions of views and shares for the brands that they represent. However, as much as they are a representation of the brand, this year has truly shown that these characters can go beyond just that - becoming an extension of the brand itself. It provides a very unique space for brands to play in, allowing them to explore new niches and communities without having to fully commit an entire brand act to them. Moving forward it would not be surprising to find more mascots coming to the stage, or even making their own social profiles, as brands begin trying to expand their empires and tap into new markets.
Examples: 1, 2, 3
Four must-click links that crossed our feeds today.
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