Chris Brown repents online

Slightly pleased with my simple life, I enjoy sitting back and watching celebrities and dominant figures get slaughtered by the press, then cry on the shoulder of their publicist! This occurred a few years back when RnB singer, Chris Brown allegedly bashed his then girlfriend Rihanna. The news hit tabloids labeling Brown as a ‘lady basher’. Jokes, facebook groups, websites and games were dedicated to Rihanna limewired instantly whilst Browns career slowly came to end. Well, almost. PR stepped in again and used viral powers to repent his so called sins. Browns YouTube account was being bombarded daily by his true followers where he made numerous apologies, sang songs obviously to Rihianna and constantly updated his Twitter account with status updates indicating he made a mistake. Browns apology was hard to ignore as his PR team did such an effortless job to make him appear child-like and innocent even though the images below of the assault indicate otherwise. Apart from the typical viral sources, Browns PR team worked cleverly on magazine spreads and even a new album for the singer. If Kardashian and West’s cases were not enough to be convinced of how PR comes to the rescue, then Browns case definitely holds a very valuable position in the Public Relations industry. 

Not another sex tape?!

It almost seems that celebrities are aware of the effects of bad publicity yet continue to live in ignorance because their PR representative will conceal their Hollywood scars. We have seen two examples of stars having a sex tape released, destroying their so-called corporate image, then, quickly enough we are steered away to see their innocence. So what happened when hip-hop mogul Kanye West interrupted innocent Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech at the VMA’s in 2009? He made a new album, made more money and has been featured on countless magazine articles. Mr West’s ignorance was aided immediately via PR. This was done invisibly outlining that he is indeed only human who makes mistakes, has learned from his mistakes and will never re-offend! For those of you who have no idea who Kanye is, see the images below. For those of you have no idea what he said, I’ll quote:

“Taylor, I’m really happy for you. Imma let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time! One of the best videos of all time!”

 

Now how would you reverse his actions especially after being called a “Jack Ass” by President Obama and getting kicked out of the VMA’s that night? A simple apology. It was as easy as that, alongside a few TV and radio interviews of course, but the main apologetic source went viral and displayed on his blog.

Evidently, his apology was accepted as his success is palpable within the

media.

Trash Bashing

Another case of PR crisis, was relevant when Kendra Wilkinsons ex boyfriend released a sex tape they’d made prior to her entering the play boy mansion. At the age of 19, Kendra entered the playboy mansion for the first time, leaving her boyfriend behind. After years of living in the play boy mansion, she then moved on to marrying Hank Baskett a player for the NFL. Shortly after this Kendra was Pregnant and had a baby boy. And then it was released, just as Kendra had gained the approval of other people who may have judged her time in the play boy mansion, the sex tape was released. Putting strain on her relationship with Hank and her image. On the PR front, they could not start a television show as Kendra already had one, they were getting overwhelmed with blasts on the internet, some people claiming their disrespect for Kendra but a majority of males saying their sexual ‘feelings’ for her. Eventually, it was left to play out its part. It was obviously expressed through the television show that Kendra was mortified by this, there was no actual written quotes used. However, she let lose in an angered argument on air, ‘What did you expect? You married Hugh Hefners ex Girlfriend!’ This further leaked stories that her and Hank were separating. They were not. Kendra later told paparazzi that her and Hank were fine and they’d make it through. This is just another example of how the online social crisis can effect ones life so drastically. It can never fully be controlled by PR workers but can be merely steered away from complete negativity.

PR Response to Crisis

In response to the crisis created by the publication of Kim Kardashian’s sex tape with singer Ray J her publicists worked extremely hard to insure that her image was not associatated with the aforementioned tape but instead with her family life and successful business. In 2007 the E! network launched the, now hit, reality show Keeping Up With the Kardashians which charts the life of Kim’s family whilst keeping the focus heavily on her. The show emphasized her place as the “tame” Kardashian sister highlighting the rebellious traits of her other full sisters Kourtney and Khloe. The show also dwells on the relationship between Kim and her younger half sisters Kylie and Kendall, that is, as their respectable role model. The show was used as a professional tool as well as a source of entertainment drawing fans away from the negative publicity perpetuated by the sex tape; instead viewing Kim as an admired celebrity and entrepreneur rather then a spotlight seeking socialite .

Responding to Online Crisis

Kim Kardashian

In today’s society, an average person will be subject to assorted mediums almost dictating how he or she should live his or her life, what to eat, how to dress and how what communicational resources are best. This is just for the average person. You and I are allowed to get it wrong sometimes because we won’t be bombarded with judgment from external sources. However, in saying this, what happens if you were not ‘average’? In my very first blog, I will be discussing crisis management especially in an online world where most of us spend most our time. I will be using excellent examples throughout my blogging. One of which is socialite Kim Karadashian. In the above image we assume she is a glamorous entertainer who has an outstanding career however, when perception intertwines with the reality of Kim after a sex tape was released online, Public Relations crisis management took place. A professional team dealt with Kim not only focusing on her exterior but also using resources online that worked against her notorious, temporary reputation. When online statistics were released claiming that Kim was one of the most searched celebrities, the PR team went viral which derailed the ‘porn star’ image into a conservative, shy and respectable socialite. All this was accomplished via popular status site Twitter where Kim posts status updates about her day, her friends, her family and anything associated with having a respectable portrayal.