From CEOs caught on kiss cams at a Coldplay show to a beloved chain restaurant spoiling the appetites of millions, we look back at the unforced errors and marketing mishaps of 2025.

Last week, GoFundMe announced it had automatically created donation/landing pages for more than 1.4 million U.S. nonprofits—in many cases without the nonprofits’ knowledge or consent. These pages weren’t necessarily harmful in all cases, but it's a lesson to learn from on the importance of brand ownership.

Every dollar you spend on marketing needs to work hard for your agency. Are you getting the best bang for your bucks?