Great article from the Economist:

For small brands fighting for recognition in crowded markets, almost any publicity is beneficial, he reckons. One reason is that, for lesser-known brands, negative perceptions fade more quickly in consumers’ minds than their general awareness of the product. When coming across a brand whose boss is, say, a philanderer, they recognise it but don’t remember why. With established brands, on the other hand, the whiff of bad publicity lingers longer.