Weekly roundup: Tariffs, 'finfluencers' and Wingstop SG's unhinged marketing stunt

Happy Friday, MARKETING-INTERACTIVE readers, and welcome back to our weekly roundup. This week, US tariffs took the spotlight — with Asia playing a central role. Closer to home, complaints against 'finfluencers' are on the rise, and Wingstop stirred the pot with a bold hacked Instagram stunt.

If you need a quick summary, welcome to MARKETING-INTERACTIVE's weekly roundup, a video and article feature in which we take you through the biggest stories of the week and take a deep dive into trending topics we've seen in the industry.

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1. Back to performance: SEA marketers on seismic changes amidst tariff shockwaves

News around the United States imposing sweeping tariffs on numerous countries, including several in Asia, aiming to address trade imbalances and bolster domestic industries, have dominated headlines globally.

These tariffs have led to significant economic worries and ripples across the region. Many marketers and CMOs MARKETING-INTERACTIVE spoke to shared that they were waiting and assessing the situation, but were hesitant to go on the record for a comment.

Read more here. 

2. MAS sees spike in 'finfluencer' complaints: Should influencers learn to self-regulate?

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has received eight complaints against financial influencers (finfluencers) in 2025, an increase from the average of five complaints per year in the last five years. 

In parliament on Tuesday (8 April), Alvin Tan, minister of state for trade and industry said the majority of this year's complaints were attributable to comments made recently by two "finfluencers" who shared their reasons for liquidating their investments from a financial platform. 

Read more here.

3. Wingstop SG Instagram account "hacked" by unhinged hardcore fan in marketing stunt

Over the past week, Wingstop Singapore was "hacked" on Instagram. 

In conversation with MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, Wingstop Singapore revealed that the "hack" was a marketing stunt to relaunch its cult-favourite hot honey rub flavour. "This is our version of brat marketing: not just speaking to Gen Z, but being Gen Z. It's bold, bratty, borderline delusional - but more importantly, done with the heart of a Gen Z," it said. 

Read more here. 

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