Backlash to First Lady’s speech, an apology from a Florida editor and verifying companies’ ESG claims

Have you noticed that your favorite restaurant suddenly has hundreds of one-star reviews? If that’s the case, the Thai place where you know for a fact they do pad see ew juuuust right might be the victim of a recent scam.

The New York Times reports that eateries across the country are receiving a blast of negative reviews followed by messages from the person claiming to be responsible for the reviews. The messages ask for money in the form of a $75 Google Play gift card in return for removing the ratings.

PR pros and small business owners should view scams like this as a very real threat to their organizations’ credibility. If your company falls victim to something like this, jump into crisis mode ASAP and fight the misinformation with your own, truthful campaign.

Here are today’s other top stories:

First Lady Jill Biden is facing backlash after she compared Latino people to tacos and mispronounced the word “bodega” in a speech earlier this week.

“The diversity of this community, as distinct as the bodegas of the Bronx, as beautiful as the blossoms of Miami, and as unique as the breakfast tacos here in San Antonio, is your strength,” Biden told the crowd at the Hispanic “Quest for Equity” event.