Callaway Cuts Ties With Brand for 'Worst Ad Known to Man'

Callaway is cutting ties with a popular golf-content brand after an ad featuring a man violently shoving a woman sparked widespread criticism. The golf manufacturer on Thursday ended its partnership with Good Good Golf and acknowledged its own vetting failures in reposting the 60-second spot, which promoted a co-branded driver, reports ESPN. Callaway said it has tightened its review process and will donate $1 million to groups working to prevent violence against women and assist survivors.

Retailer Dick's Sporting Goods and its Golf Galaxy chain have pulled Good Good merchandise, and Golf Channel delayed the launch of its Big Break x Good Good show after a sponsor requested its branding be removed. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp called Good Good's initial response "disappointing" and said the tour is continuing to watch the situation, per ESPN. Good Good, for its part, has apologized for the ad, noting it was meant to be a riff on the movie Obsession, reports the AP.

On Wednesday, Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark, the man seen in the ad shoving the woman (played by former Division I golfer Alexis Miestowski), posted an eight-minute-plus video on social media, calling the clip "the worst ad known to man," per NBC News. "I do sincerely apologize for playing the role that I did in that ad, and I want you guys to know that I, in no way, shape, or form, support DV [domestic violence], abuse, or anything of the sort," he said.