#CecilTheLion, Drake vs. Meek Mill, Gawker: What was in and what was out this week
Cecil the Lion, we hardly knew you. Quite literally.
It’s fair to say that a hearty portion of the population never even heard of the noble beast until this week — when he was brutally slaughtered by a Minnesota dentist, catapulting them into the public’s attention. #HotTakes on big game hunting replaced think pieces about Bill Cosby. Another animal trended for happier reasons, though. Meet Grumpy Puppy, the Internet’s new favorite canine. Meanwhile, Twitter’s interim CEO Jack Dorsey actually found a use for Periscope (earnings call!) and there was another battle between musicians. Also, several staffers peaced out from Gawker causing a new trend on Twitter that we’re deeming “I’m Quitting! Twitter.” A look at what’s in and what’s out for the week ending July 31:
More in Marketing
A step toward compliance: the creator economy addresses disclosure and liability risks
The Institute for Responsible Influence will offer a creator certification program to standardize disclosures and increase creator accountability.
Pinterest CRO Bill Watkins leaves amid reorganization
The move comes just over three weeks before the company reveals its Q4 2025 earnings update on February 12.
How brands like Vuori, Rothy’s and Away have adapted to the new DTC landscape
At NRF 2026, a panel of executives laid out the lessons learned from operating DTC brands over the past decade.
