So many trending stories, so little time! This week’s quick PR reads were difficult to compile with a plethora of interesting stories hitting the airwaves following the Thanksgiving holiday.
Here is a sampling of what we’re reading and talking about this week.
Starbucks has a new ICED holiday beverage
There’s a new holiday beverage being added to the Starbucks lineup, but unlike the classics that have been traditionally served hot, this new item is ice cold! The Irish Cream Cold Brew hit stores this week. This Baileys-inspired beverage has a base of Starbuck’s signature cold brew, whipped vanilla cold foam, infused with its new Irish Cream syrup and dash of cocoa powder.
Surprisingly, this is not the first time Starbucks added an iced beverage to the holiday lineup. In the past, Starbucks junkies enjoyed the Christmas Tree Frappuccino, and the Cold Foam Cascara Cold Brew.
Peloton Holiday Ad Backlash
In typical Twitter fashion, tweeters took to the airwaves to discuss the new Peloton holiday advertisement that many deemed “cringeworthy,” “creepy,” “disturbing,” with some implying it was sexist and classist.
The ad, which first ran Nov. 4 but went viral Monday, features a fit woman who is gifted a Peloton stationary bike by her husband. Several reports confirmed that Peloton’s stock was down 9.3% as of Tuesday (Dec 3) at 2:14pm EST.
“We constantly hear from our members how their lives have been meaningfully and positively impacted after purchasing or being gifted a Peloton Bike or Tread, often in ways that surprise them,” a Peloton spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC. “Our holiday spot was created to celebrate that fitness and wellness journey. While we’re disappointed in how some have misinterpreted this commercial, we are encouraged by — and grateful for — the outpouring of support we’ve received from those who understand what we were trying to communicate.”
Baby Yoda Out-Trends Political Candidates on Social
A character in the new Disney+ original series The Mandalorian, is making more waves on social media than political candidates.
Since the debut of the series, which is set in the Star Wars universe five years after the events of The Return of the Jedi, Baby Yoda – not the character’s official name – has been discussed heavily on social media.
This is bad news for former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, who each jumped into the political race just as the character was introduced in the new Disney+ series. As Newswhip data suggested, “With Baby Yoda in the mix with the 2020 Democrats, Bloomberg ranks 14th and Patrick 16th in terms of average interactions (likes, comments, shares) per story about them — and Baby Yoda has notched an average interaction rate 10 times higher than theirs.”
The Business of Being Santa Claus
And finally, ..… we wanted to share an interesting video on the global spokesperson of Christmas himself, Mr. Santa Claus. Fast Company peeled back the curtain on the gig of being Santa, which surprisingly is a lucrative business endeavor.
Watch the “An Inside look at the money-making business of being Santa Claus” as 40 Santas prepare to spread Christmas cheer during their busy and profitable season.
