Silence, Brand! 07.18.25
🦀 Coldplay concert fiasco + Late Show shocker + Wendy's x Wednesday + Google Maps girl + Dubai chocolate recall + OneRepublic to Lt. Gov. + SylvanianDrama sued + add the food + go see outfits 🦀
listen,
we don’t have much to say about the astronomer in the room
we know you’re probably over it, too
(bc it’s all that’s happening on the internet right now)
we’re crabs. we literally don’t even know what a Coldplay is 🦀
but tbh, this scandal feels like an episode of Sylvanian Drama (“he’s defo cheating 💔”), which is a little on the nose because that account is also back in the headlines this week.
back in april, the Sylvanian Drama creator was hit with a lawsuit by the parent company of Sylvanian Families, Epoch Co. Ltd., and that story has picked up again as they prep for court next month.
which, like… absolutely cataclysmic L on Epoch’s part
when someone builds a massive fandom around your product and revives your brand for tens of millions of viewers, most companies would say “collab? you’re serving” not “you’ve been served” 🧑⚖️
also trending:
the late-night show with the second-best ice cream flavor
(AKA the Late Show with mr. colbert) announced it will wrap in May
just 3 days after colbert criticised Paramount’s $16 million settlement paid to Trump earlier in the month… curious.
hungry? just cook a meal with your group chat
better yet, feel free to invite us.
as long as it’s not a seafood boil… 🔪🔪
don’t know what to wear?
dress how tyra taught you.
it’s been a hell of a week.
hold your HR manager a little tighter today, babes
we’ll see ya monday 🦀🫰
📲🦀 Viral Topics
The Astronomer CEO's Coldplay Concert Fiasco Is Emblematic of Our Social Media Surveillance Dystopia (404 Media)
Facial recognition and crowdsourced social media investigations are being used on individuals in public settings, not just high-profile figures, raising concerns about privacy and surveillance. This trend has sparked discussions about the ethical implications of such widespread surveillance practices.
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‘Late Show’ Shocker: CBS Ending Late-Night Franchise in 2026 (Hollywood Reporter)
Late Show host Stephen Colbert surprised everyone by announcing that the show will end in May 2026 due to a "purely financial decision" made by CBS in response to the changing TV landscape. The news was shared with the live audience during the Thursday show taping at the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York.
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TikToker ‘SylvanianDrama’ sued by Calico Critters for “damaging” brand with dramatic videos (Dexerto)
TikToker SylvanianDrama, known for creating soap-opera style videos using Calico Critters, has been sued by the toy company Epoch Co., Ltd. for allegedly damaging the brand's reputation. The lawsuit accuses the TikToker of creating and disseminating advertising videos using Calico Critters without permission, and the two parties are set to confer in court on August 14.
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This TikTok trend makes *anything* your CarPlay start-up sound (Mashable)
The latest TikTok trend involves customizing the start-up sound for Apple's CarPlay, leading to a competitive and humorous trend on the platform. Users are sharing their creative and quirky start-up sounds, adding a touch of whimsy to their daily commute. Instructions for setting up a custom start-up sound via CarPlay can be found on TikTok and other platforms, allowing users to join in on the fun with just a little bit of effort. Big fan of this Mariokart one:
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Brands line up to sponsor ‘The Group Chat’ on TikTok (AdAge)
Sydney Robinson's viral TikTok reality show "The Group Chat" has racked up over 160 million views, making it a massive hit on the platform. The show, featured on TikTok under the handle @thatgirlsydjo, has captured the attention of a huge audience with its engaging content.
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TikTok's 'Google Maps Girl' trend has us lost and strutting to Charli xcx (Mashable)
The Google Maps Girl trend on TikTok features people wandering around while looking at their phones, often set to the song "Girl, so confusing" by Charli xcx. This trend is a playful take on the reliance on GPS maps and the humorous situations that can arise from it, resonating with many who identify with the experience of being glued to their phone's map.
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FDA issues highest risk warning for Dubai chocolate recall (Newsweek)
The Food and Drug Administration has updated the recall of a batch of Dubai chocolate spread to Class I due to salmonella contamination (yikes). Customers who purchased the affected products are urged not to consume them and to return them for a full refund or discard them.
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We Spoke to the Guy Behind TikTok's Thirstiest Comments Section (POPSUGAR)
Content creator Greyson Hoelzel receives a mix of flirty and hypersexual comments on his videos. Despite the attention, Hoelzel takes the comments in stride, acknowledging the dynamics at play and maintaining a good-natured perspective.
Medieval medicine was smarter than you think – and weirdly similar to TikTok trends (Binghamton)
New research shows that people in the Middle Ages were actually pretty into science and natural remedies, some of which are trending on TikTok today. From lizard shampoo to peach stone ointments, their health hacks might sound weird, but they've been around for thousands of years.
📈‼️🦀 Trending
Go See Outfit
It’s America’s Next Top Model coded so more Y2K elements still proving to be trendy. Tyra taught the girls all they needed was a black tank, jeans, a heel, and a clean face to take home the job #booked #modeloffduty
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Add the Food
This is a group text thread where they “cook” a meal together. Think about your customer personas in a group chat (or your founder + team) and how you’d want to showcase your product or service in this “add to” format for a unique content opportunity that can also be evergreen.
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🍟🦀 Brand News
Why I Am Closing Ami Colé (The Cut)
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Leaked: Wendy’s Might Be Teaming Up With Netflix’s Creepiest Icon Yet (Fast Food Club)
Microsoft Abruptly Ceases Digital Movie and TV Sales (Variety)
Quebec’s Emotional Masterstroke How One Tourism Ad Has Americans Dreaming of Letting Go (Travel And Tour World)
Brands are increasing prices. Will US consumers keep buying? (Vogue Business)
Christine Hunsicker Indicted in $300M Fashion Rental Fraud Case (WWD)
📡🥴🦀 Industry News
Why LinkedIn is showing you so many old posts (Business Insider)
Exclusive: Meta names Connor Hayes head of Threads (Axios)
TikTok announces the beta launch of TikTok Songwriter Features (TikTok Newsroom)
Privacy group files complaint against AliExpress, TikTok and WeChat (Reuters)
Twitch starts testing vertical video streams (Tech Crunch)
Dr. Squatch Voluntarily Discontinues Affiliate Posts, Updates Influencer Disclosures Following NAD Challenge (AInvest)
TikTok corrects its livestreamers figure (but it’s still big) (Musically)
🥳 Say Hello to the New Emoji Coming in Unicode 17.0 This Fall! ✨ (Unicode)
new emoji 🚨 via Unicode Consortium Extreme weight loss, cosmetic surgery videos available to teens on TikTok despite guidelines, CBS News finds (CBS News)
🌎👀🦀 Politics
OneRepublic founder announces run for California lieutenant governor to 'fight back' against Trump (Fox News)
Trump Says ‘I Absolutely Love’ That Stephen Colbert Got ‘Fired’ and ‘I Hear Jimmy Kimmel Is Next’ (Variety)
Mister Rogers Speech Goes Viral After PBS & NPR Funding Is Cut by Congress (TV Insider)
⚽️🏆🦀 Sports
Golf rage' goes viral: are fairway freakouts hurting the game? (CBS12)
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Travis Hunter Goes Viral With Touchdown Celebration by Kai Cenat (Athlon Sports)
Nick Saban's Daughter Has Direct Response to Rumors That He Will Return to Coaching (Sports Illustrated)
🤖🦀 Tech
Grok’s popularity surges in Japan after anime-style AI companion goes viral (Dexerto)
Japanese hotel staffed by human-like robots leaves influencer terrified (Dexerto)
🎀🦀 Style
Prada looks at collaboration with Indian footwear artisans after sandal scandal (Reuters)
Does the 'Messy Girl Aesthetic' Dominating TikTok Miss the Point? (Elle Decor)
Doris Day tapped into a 2025 color trend in her 1950s living room with a cherry red sofa and blue walls 75 years before it went viral (Homes & Gardens)
A Beauty Incubator Tried to Launch an AI Fragrance Influencer. Human Influencers Weren’t Impressed (WWD)
Can Generative AI Predict Fashion Trends and Improve Design Efficiency? (WWD)
If You Can’t Trust Loro Piana, Who Can You Trust? (Business of Fashion)
🎧🍿🦀 Entertainment
Connie Francis, 'Who's Sorry Now?' and 'Pretty Little Baby' Singer, Dies at 87 (People)
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Dua Lipa designed a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, and it's quite brilliant (TopGear)
Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Sells Out in Imax 70MM a Year Ahead of Film’s Release (Hollywood Reporter)
@metroentertainmentThis is wild 🤯 🎥 The first tickets to Christopher Nolan’s take on Homer’s Odyssey sold out in what is likely the longest pre-sale in cinematic history 🎟️ On thursday, Imax released tickets to the first screenings at the 26 Imax cinemas around the world that have the staff and equipment required to project in 1570 format. The 1570 format is the largest and highest resolution film format in existence and as fans know, Nolan’s preferred format 🎥 The blockbuster has not finished filming and has no official runtime, but that didn't stop loyal superfans from securing their seats 😯 #christophernolan#odyssey #2026 #filmtok #celebrity #film #celebritynewsTiktok failed to load.
Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser‘Assassin’s Creed’ Live-Action Series Ordered at Netflix (Variety)
Alex Warren fans can hear his new album a day early at Chipotle (Dexerto)
Atari Brings Classic Arcade Games to Volkswagen Cars (Hypebeast)
Streamer’s reaction to 'realistic' San Antonio video game map is going viral (MySanAntonio)
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How Panic Shack went viral on TikTok before their debut album (Mashable)
We originally spotted the ladies of Panic Shack doing their iconic dance circle back in May in our 5/30 issue and knew they were destined for greatness!
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🏆🦀 Brand W
Stubhub moved quick with drama content. They said ask for forgiveness not approval 😅
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Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserFrom social media post to upping UX game on websites. Love to see how far the trend has gone and how brands like Oh Polly are leaning into its interactive design.
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Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserEven though their response was a little slow, the execution was perfect!!!
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Silence, Brand! is an internet culture and marketing newsletter compiled by unhinged brand marketing professionals—an elite army of internet idiots.
Thank you to this installment’s contributors: Ryan Benson, Dayna Castillo, Lenny Leithauser, Apple Xenos, Dejaih Smith, Benton Williams, and Janine Davis