Latest news with #Pop!
The Age
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
From TikTok to TV, Robert Irwin is hot property
The stars are aligning for Robert Irwin. For a start, America's ongoing fascination with Australia's preternaturally perky, croc-wrangling family has delivered a $58 million, media-impact jackpot for underwear-maker Bonds after the buff 21-year-old appeared in the brand's racy campaign designed to help it break into the $13 billion US men's market. A Bonds analysis of the campaign, which launched in April, revealed that it had generated a staggering nine billion 'media impressions' in its first 24 hours in the US. How much Bonds, which manufactures offshore and was sold to American giant Hanes in 2016, paid Irwin is unclear, but he's pulled off something previous brand ambassadors, such as Sarah Murdoch, Paul Mercurio, Pat Rafter and even Chesty Bond, couldn't: becoming the second-most popular global trending topic on TikTok in the first week of the launch. Crikey! Thanks to Irwin's khaki-clad, in-house management team, which is headed by 'mummager' Terri, the youngest Irwin is fast becoming the brightest star in the Irwin firmament, flogging everything from Twisties and Hello Fresh to Pop! dolls and holiday parks. (The Irwin empire already includes a multimillion-dollar property portfolio, from Australia Zoo to the 130,000-hectare Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve in Cape York, and a slew of residual-earning TV shows, books and magazines.) Irwin's media career started in 2004 when a horrified world watched his dad, Steve, cradle his month-old son while dangling a chicken carcass over the snapping jaws of a 3.8-metre-long saltwater croc. The former chairman of the National Australia Day Council, Lisa Curry, later revealed the stunt cost Irwin snr the Australian of the Year honour. But the Irwin hatchling survived. Homeschooled at Australia Zoo while surrounded by crocodile-infested ponds and gawking tourists, he was a regular on Jimmy Fallon's The Tonight Show by his teen years. In 2024, he got his own wax effigy next to his father's at Madame Tussauds Sydney. He has also co-hosted two seasons of Australia's I'm a Celebrity … Get Me out of Here!, was nominated for a Gold Logie, and won this year's AACTA for 'favourite media personality'. Even his fledgling love life has become tabloid fodder. And now he's on the cusp of his biggest showbiz break yet: deep in training to compete on the US television series Dancing with the Stars, just as big sister Bindi triumphantly did a decade ago. It doesn't get much bigger. Last year's finale drew a whopping 7.95 million viewers and garnered 32 million votes. Now that's a lot of undies.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
From TikTok to TV, Robert Irwin is hot property
The stars are aligning for Robert Irwin. For a start, America's ongoing fascination with Australia's preternaturally perky, croc-wrangling family has delivered a $58 million, media-impact jackpot for underwear-maker Bonds after the buff 21-year-old appeared in the brand's racy campaign designed to help it break into the $13 billion US men's market. A Bonds analysis of the campaign, which launched in April, revealed that it had generated a staggering nine billion 'media impressions' in its first 24 hours in the US. How much Bonds, which manufactures offshore and was sold to American giant Hanes in 2016, paid Irwin is unclear, but he's pulled off something previous brand ambassadors, such as Sarah Murdoch, Paul Mercurio, Pat Rafter and even Chesty Bond, couldn't: becoming the second-most popular global trending topic on TikTok in the first week of the launch. Crikey! Thanks to Irwin's khaki-clad, in-house management team, which is headed by 'mummager' Terri, the youngest Irwin is fast becoming the brightest star in the Irwin firmament, flogging everything from Twisties and Hello Fresh to Pop! dolls and holiday parks. (The Irwin empire already includes a multimillion-dollar property portfolio, from Australia Zoo to the 130,000-hectare Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve in Cape York, and a slew of residual-earning TV shows, books and magazines.) Irwin's media career started in 2004 when a horrified world watched his dad, Steve, cradle his month-old son while dangling a chicken carcass over the snapping jaws of a 3.8-metre-long saltwater croc. The former chairman of the National Australia Day Council, Lisa Curry, later revealed the stunt cost Irwin snr the Australian of the Year honour. But the Irwin hatchling survived. Homeschooled at Australia Zoo while surrounded by crocodile-infested ponds and gawking tourists, he was a regular on Jimmy Fallon's The Tonight Show by his teen years. In 2024, he got his own wax effigy next to his father's at Madame Tussauds Sydney. He has also co-hosted two seasons of Australia's I'm a Celebrity … Get Me out of Here!, was nominated for a Gold Logie, and won this year's AACTA for 'favourite media personality'. Even his fledgling love life has become tabloid fodder. And now he's on the cusp of his biggest showbiz break yet: deep in training to compete on the US television series Dancing with the Stars, just as big sister Bindi triumphantly did a decade ago. It doesn't get much bigger. Last year's finale drew a whopping 7.95 million viewers and garnered 32 million votes. Now that's a lot of undies.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Caitlin Clark, A'ja Wilson, other WNBA stars get Funko treatment
Caitlin Clark captured fans' attention during her WNBA Rookie of the Year campaign. (Credit: Getty Images) Funko announced an agreement Wednesday with the WNBA to create Funko Pop! figures, beginning with four featuring A'ja Wilson, Angel Reese, Breanna Stewart and Caitlin Clark. The brand has previously partnered with the NBA, including for an activation allowing fans to create vinyl figures of themselves using NBA logos during All-Star Weekend, as well as collectible figures of licensed players. Advertisement Funko's rise to the top of the collectible world has been swift, with revenue doubling from around $500 million in 2017 to more than $1 billion in 2024. Likewise, demand for all things WNBA has surged in the past couple of years, spear-headed by Clark but seen league-wide in viewership numbers — 22 regular-season games averaged more than 1 million viewers last year — as well as in the collectible markets. 'At Funko, we believe fandom has no boundaries, and we are incredibly excited about this relationship,' Funko CEO Cynthia Williams said in a statement. 'The recent rapid rise of the WNBA, the power of its players as engaging brand ambassadors, and its passionate fan base are a testament to the power of sports culture. "Bringing these trailblazing athletes to our Pop! lineup is not just about collectibles — it's about celebrating the energy, talent, and influence of women's basketball.' Advertisement PSA, the third-party authenticator largely known for grading cards, began grading Funko figures in 2023. Orders go on pre-sale May 14 ahead of the WNBA regular-season openers. Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.
Black America Web
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
WNBA Launches Funko Pop Partnership With Angel Reese & More
Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty The price went up for the WNBA a few seasons ago, and the stock keeps rising. Now, fans have a new way to represent their favorite players, as the W has inked an official deal with Funko Pop!, the brand of mini figurines that has become synonymous with pop culture's biggest names. To kick off the partnership, the two companies are introducing their first collectibles, featuring a healthy mix of newcomers and the biggest young talents already established in the league. First up is Las Vegas ace A'ja Wilson, the two-time WNBA champ and finals MVP who's on a branding run. She just starred in the Malia Obama-directed commercial to hype the release of her forthcoming signature Nike sneaker, the A'One. The New York Liberty's Breanna Stewart also gets her own Funko Pop, a well-deserved honor after winning her third WNBA title last year. That's only her latest streak of greatness, as the 2017 WNBA draft No. 1 pick also won four NCAA championships during her college career with the UConn Huskies. League newbies are also getting some love in the new partnership, including Chicago Sky's Angel Reese, who's become a marketing dream after being one of the most successful products of the NIL boom in college sports. Rounding out the foursome is her college rival and 2024 draft buddy, Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever. She holds the record for most NCAA points scored—men's or women's—during her time as an Iowa Hawkeye and continued on when she was named the WNBA rookie of the year. Funko CEO Cynthia Williams sees this small crop of WNBA players as just a small sample of the league's new talents, which have created previously unseen hype for the ladies. 'At Funko, we believe fandom has no boundaries and we are incredibly excited about this relationship,' Williams said in the press release. 'The recent rapid rise of the WNBA, the power of its players as engaging brand ambassadors, and its passionate fanbase are a testament to the power of sports culture. Bringing these trailblazing athletes to our Pop! lineup is not just about collectibles—it's about celebrating the energy, talent, and influence of women's basketball.' The starting lineup of WNBA Funko Pops goes on presale on May 14, just a few days before the 2025 WNBA season kicks off. WNBA Announces Funko Pop Partnership With A Starting Lineup Of Angel Reese, A'ja Wilson & More was originally published on
Business Wire
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
Funko Announces Agreement With WNBA, Celebrating Women's Basketball Fandom
EVERETT, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Funko, Inc. (Nasdaq: FNKO), a leading pop culture lifestyle brand announces an agreement with the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) to launch its first-ever WNBA player Pop! figures, bringing four of the league's biggest stars to its iconic collectible lineup. This agreement reflects Funko's ongoing commitment to celebrating the growing influence of women's sports. We believe fandom has no boundaries and we are incredibly excited about this relationship. The recent rapid rise of the WNBA, the power of its players as engaging brand ambassadors, and its passionate fanbase are a testament to the power of sports culture. Share Set to launch for pre-sale on May 14, prior to the tip-off of the WNBA regular season, this initial wave of collectibles will feature A'ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces), Angel Reese (Chicago Sky), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), and Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever). 'At Funko, we believe fandom has no boundaries and we are incredibly excited about this relationship,' said Cynthia Williams, CEO of Funko. 'The recent rapid rise of the WNBA, the power of its players as engaging brand ambassadors, and its passionate fanbase are a testament to the power of sports culture. Bringing these trailblazing athletes to our Pop! lineup is not just about collectibles—it's about celebrating the energy, talent, and influence of women's basketball.' The WNBA Pop! collection marks a major milestone in Funko's expansion into reaching sports fans and collectors, which has already seen the successful launch of NBA Pop! Yourself and an exciting NBA Crossover Activation. With upcoming activations tied to events across the basketball fandom, which include the NBA Finals and Fanatics Fest NYC, Funko is committed to remaining at the forefront of fan culture and delivering unique ways for collectors to engage with their favorite sports. For more information and to stay updated on the latest reveals, visit and follow Funko on TikTok, X, and Instagram. ABOUT FUNKO Funko is a leading global pop culture lifestyle brand, with a diverse collection of brands, including Funko, Loungefly, and Mondo, and an industry-leading portfolio of licenses. Funko delivers industry-defining products that span vinyl figures, micro-collectibles, fashion accessories, apparel, plush, action toys, high-end art, music and digital collectibles, many of which are at the forefront of the growing Kidult economy. Through these products, which include the iconic original Pop! line, Bitty Pop!, and Pop! Yourself, Funko inspires fans across the globe to express their passions, build community, and have fun. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Washington state, Funko has offices, retail locations, operations, and licensed partnerships in major consumer geographies across the globe. Learn more at and and follow us on TikTok, X, and Instagram.
