Rainbow Capitalism Has Run Dry for Brands, At Least for Now
Thu, Jun. 25, 2026
By Eric Yaverbaum
Many brands have scaled back their Pride marketing due to a fear of consumer backlash as well as reputational and financial risk. However, this is far from the end of brands celebrating Pride, and those that continue to do so are showing their true colors.

To successfully navigate a higher education landscape in which the level of scrutiny is constantly rising, university presidents need to establish a consistent framework for determining when an official response is—and is not—required.
LLYC has prepared a comprehensive must-read report on the rise of “Rainbow Ghosting” which it defines as the progressive withdrawal of public support for diversity... Success of the US men's World Cup team highlights the benefits of a welcoming immigration policy... Omnicom develops system to help marketers decide which sports fans to connect with.
Falmouth, a town on Cape Cod with a year-round population of 32,500 that triples during the summer, wants to hire a firm to develop a diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging strategic plan.
In recognition of AANHPI Heritage Month, in this episode of Taking the Lead, Soon Mee Kim, Board Chair of Diversity Action Alliance and newly appointed CMO of Zero RFI, shares how DEI executives should be advising C-Suite Leaders in polarizing times.
Continuing a trend that began last year, purpose-driven messaging is falling out of favor among communications pros working in our politically polarized environment, with many now also anticipating fewer future corporate investments in DEI, sustainability and other CSR initiatives.
In our conversation on the Taking the Lead podcast, John G. Clemons reflects on how trust must be earned, how credibility is constantly tested, and why courage can carry a different weight for Black and Brown leaders.
Malika Klingler, managing principal of PRR, shares her vision for leadership, commitment to anti-racism, and insights into driving meaningful DEI progress while navigating the complexities of leading an employee-owned agency, on Taking the Lead podcast.
There are many reasons—personal and professional—why I feel it’s essential to come out of the shadows for Black History Month. As a longtime member, and now trustee, of the Page Society, I can rely on the Page Principles to elucidate a few.
As PR professionals, we have a unique responsibility to help our clients navigate the challenging waters surrounding DEI in the current political landscape.
The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism has enlisted Allison to help it advance its diversity, equity & inclusion initiatives.
Ellen Ryan Mardiks, Chairman of Golin, reflects on the leadership insights she gained from the iconic Al Golin, her approach to leading leaders, her commitment to DEI initiatives, and her intentional decision to stay with Golin for 40+ years on latest Taking The Lead Podcast with Ken Jacobs.
It's easy to spot whether a company's commitment to DEI is genuine or merely performative. Just as companies face backlash for neglecting DEI, they're now under scrutiny for their lack of proper understanding and action.
Executing DEI is not just a nice to do for agencies today, but a critical need for their business success, according to Ben Finzel, president of RENEWPR and founding partner at the Change Agencies.
Public corporate boards in the 21st Century need major change if they want to mitigate big risks in 2024.
Latondra Newton has quit her chief diversity officer job at Walt Disney Co. to pursue other endeavors.
Simply changing your corporate logo to a rainbow and remaining silent on the continued attacks on the LGBTQ community won’t cut it this year. Companies and organizations are going to have to take a side in this conversation.


















