A brief overview of what is currently trending in news, culture, and/or trending hashtags and formats.
Superman: The new Superman trailer just dropped, and X users are expressing their excitement that this version has a unique personality.
Cassie: With the Sean Combs trial underway, users are speaking about his ex, Cassie, after her continued testimony.
Tory: X users are sharing their opinions on Tory Lanez, who is in prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot, after it was reported he was stabbed.
A deeper dive into a subject that is impacting culture on a macro level, beyond just the social space.
Max Becomes HBO Max… Again
What It Is: Warner Bros. Discovery announced they are rebranding Max back to HBO Max this summer, which was the streaming service’s original name at launch. The move created waves on social as fans (of HBO especially) roasted the app for removing the HBO in the first place and only now reverting back — but it was the Max and HBO brand social teams who really had fun with it. Both the HBO and Max social handles posted rebrand content throughout the day, leaning heavily on self-deprecating humor, using moments from its most popular series, and even showing BTS riffs from some of their biggest talent mocking the name change. Series handles also got in on the fun, adding to the streamer’s coordinated bit across all platforms.
The Brand Takeaway: Max is the home for HBO original series like Euphoria, Game of Thrones, and Succession, but it also has Max Originals, films, and a wide library of WBD’s cable network programming. And yet, many never stopped calling the app simply, “HBO.” The success of this rebrand announcement lies in the refreshingly honest, social-first approach that got ahead of any backlash by being 100% in on the joke. Anticipating that fans of the streamer and its most prestigious programming would be both happy about the return of HBO to the wider brand name AND ready to roast them on social, the social teams took a proactive approach that resonated. It’s a great example of how social can play an integral part in mitigating negative PR, even during large-scale brand shifts that are typically out of control of the social team.
Four must-click links that crossed our feeds today.
JBL trolled a college student who returned a Party Box speaker the day after the party by creating a 9 ft, 1,000-pound “Unreturnable Party Box.”
When her daughter lost her stuffed T-rex on vacation, this mom went above and beyond to create some childhood magic while she waited for a new one to be delivered.
Tents up for Jake Shane’s interview with the Wall Street Journal.
At Social Media Week, Amelia Dimoldenberg shared her top tips for making it as a creator.
Final Destination: Bloodline - Theaters, 5.16
Friendship - Theaters, 5.16
Hurry Up Tomorrow - Theaters, 5.16
I was Honey Boo Boo - Lifetime, 5.17
LETHAL: Rico Nasty
13 Months of Sunshine - Aminé
I’m the Problem - Morgan Wallen
The Right Person Will Stay - Lana Del Rey
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