Analyst: brands aligning themselves with Lisa LaFlamme could face blowback

TORONTO – Marketing experts say brands that have advertised themselves with a nod to CTV host Lisa LaFlamme’s recent dismissal should beware of blowback.

Retail analyst Bruce Winder says companies that integrate news moments into their branding run the risk of being seen as opportunistic.

He says every brand has skeletons in their closet and should prepare for added scrutiny from customers and employees when they take a stand on hot-button issues.

Winder’s remarks come after fast-food chain Wendy’s changed the profile photo on its Canadian Twitter account on Thursday to its mascot bearing grey hair instead of her usual red locks and captioned the photo with LaFlamme’s name in hashtag and a note about a star always being a star despite their hair colour.