Sustainable brand communications about value-related scandals

Brands (un)knowingly highlight inequalities for their benefit through their marketing efforts that may face unpredictable consumer attitudes. This unethical communication is often a cause of brand scandal. Brand communication mistakes, with related stories and customers’ reactions, leave a digital footprint that can last online for many years. Thus, this study primarily focuses on understanding the phenomenon of ethical brand scandals and uncover corporate actions to reduce inequalities. The article applies multiple case study analysis methodology using archival research design. The findings of the study highlight multiple case themes, sustainable corporate strategies, and the importance of consumer’s pre-scandal attitude about the brand. This study captured the digital presence of brand scandal stories, that showcase the mistakes that should be avoided by managers in the future, hopefully inspiring future researchers to explore the triadic relationship between consumers, brands, and channel members.