Sage Steele: What happened to cancel culture?

Will Cain and Sage Steele are set to delve into the selective enforcement of cancel culture standards, particularly in light of Graham Platner’s recent primary win for the Maine Senate. Cain raises curious points about why past controversies—including Nazi tattoos and sexting scandals—seemed to have no impact on Platner’s political journey, hinting that there might be an underlying agenda at play rather than just principles. Steele brings up historical instances of what many perceive as double standards in media representation.

It seems that the concept of “cancel culture” is still very much alive.

The ongoing saga surrounding Good Good Golf’s now-removed commercial has taken another ludicrous twist. For some context, Good Good has become one of the most popular YouTube channels among golf enthusiasts, particularly appealing to younger audiences. They’ve rapidly established a significant brand presence, which includes a solid retail business and collaborations with key club manufacturers, the Golf Channel, and even sponsorship of a PGA Tour event.

Or, they had established it.

GOOD GOOD ISSUES CONTRADICTORY APOLOGY FOR SINCE-DELETED GOLF AD SHOWING A MAN SHOVING A WOMAN TO THE GROUND

In an attempt to promote their new co-branded driver with Callaway, Good Good released an online advertisement featuring Garrett Clark, one of the company’s founders, seemingly shoulder-checking a woman to the ground. The poorly conceived ad quickly drew significant backlash. Although intended to parody the movie “Obsession,” it felt offensive and inappropriate, and the idea of depicting a man knocking down a woman should never have been approved for release.

The repercussions have been severe. Major retailers, including Dick’s Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy, have reportedly pulled Good Good merchandise from their shelves. The launch of their show “Big Break x Good Good” has been delayed as Golf Galaxy reconsidered their sponsorship.

PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp expressed disappointment with the way the initial apology was handled, suggesting that the upcoming fall event might not carry the “Good Good” name anymore.

However, the most shocking development came when Callaway Golf announced, just yesterday, that they had decided to cut ties with Good Good immediately. Yes, really.

After stating they had “listened and reflected deeply on the hurt and disappointment caused by the video,” and after consulting individuals with experiences related to violence against women, the statement firmly condemned “violence against women” as unacceptable. They stressed that it should never be trivialized, normalized, or used for entertainment value. They outlined three main outcomes in response.

“Callaway has ended its relationship with Good Good, effective immediately,” the statement confirmed.

They also acknowledged that their “content review process was not comprehensive enough,” and stated they have taken appropriate internal actions to improve their approval procedures. Additionally, they pledged to donate $1 million to organizations focused on preventing violence against women and supporting survivors.

The statement concluded with an acknowledgment that “these actions do not undo the harm caused” and an apology to those hurt, disappointed, or offended by the situation, reaffirming their commitment to inclusivity within the golf community.

Here’s the crux of the issue: this response feels like an extreme overreaction. Yes, violence against women is absolutely wrong, and it shouldn’t be tolerated. But the response here doesn’t feel balanced when considering that other brands have used similar depictions—often without backlash. For example, consider a Snickers commercial where Betty White gets tackled, or a Reebok ad featuring a football player knocking down office workers. Does that mean these companies support domestic violence? Of course not.

So why should we assume Good Good’s intent was to endorse domestic violence? They have even launched a sub-channel called “Good Good Girls,” aimed at promoting female golfers.

Interestingly, some sports leagues are often less stringent regarding actual domestic violence allegations. Shouldn’t the criticism be aimed at organizations like the NFL and their handling of serious allegations? But oddly enough, it seems they can escape scrutiny.

NFL PUTS ‘INSPIRE CHANGE’ AND ‘CHOOSE LOVE’ ON FIELDS BUT NOT SO AGGRESSIVE ABOUT ITS DOMESTIC ABUSE ISSUES

By later in the day, the PGA Tour announced that Good Good had withdrawn from its planned sponsorship of an event in November.

This overreaction is just another example of the performative nature of cancel culture, which many thought we had moved past. It’s worth noting that while major players like the PGA Tour and Dick’s Sporting Goods have distanced themselves from Good Good, there’s been no word on dropping Callaway products, despite their responsibility for the ad’s final approval.

If this poorly made advertisement is so damaging, shouldn’t there be consequences for Callaway as well? They are donating money, which is commendable, but why not pull their products if they’re now so closely linked to these issues?

Moreover, it must be recognized that many executives in these companies support sporting events where male athletes compete against women, often putting those women at risk for injury.

OUTKICK IS NOW ON THE FOX APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

To reiterate, this advertisement was indeed ill-conceived and poorly executed. While their choice to parody “Obsession” is bewildering, should it really lead to Good Good’s total exclusion from public life? Of course not.

Especially since Callaway seems to be dodging any real consequences, likely because holding them accountable would negatively impact the revenues of the PGA and others.