Grindr reported first-quarter revenue of $129.9 million, a 38% year-over-year jump, while simultaneously fending off a public relations headache regarding a Madonna ad campaign that triggered audio glitches for users.
On Hard Fork, Kevin Roose highlighted the absurdity of the technical failure, noting, "even if you had your phone volume turned off, you would hear a sound of Madonna saying loudly, 'Hi, Grindr. It's Mother.'" The sentiment across the show was one of frustration, focusing on the potential for the app to inadvertently out users in inappropriate settings.
Beyond the Grindr audio incident, the company is pivoting toward a more corporate footing. The Board of Directors has nominated Rob Solomon, Lisa Gersh, and Fadi Hanna as new directors ahead of the June 2 shareholder vote. With revenue guidance raised to $535 million, the company is clearly betting that the launch of Host or Travel season 3 will keep engagement high enough to overshadow these recent technical missteps.
