I’m sometimes so amazed at some of the things I read in the marketing blogosphere. I usually shrug my shoulders and with a “WFT?” I move on. Other times I’m actually moved to unsubscribe. Sometimes I’m even moved to blog.
What really gets under my skin is when something is described as a “PR crisis.” This is a typical human reaction – to minimize real human tragedy, suffering, cupidity, whatever… to a point where it’s easily digestable and we don’t have to deal with any of the more messy and troubling aspects of Life.
So WalMart paying sub-living wages becomes an image problem to be overcome not by really taking a hard look at the bottom line and the real meaning of profit but by hiring Edelman to throw around some PR pixie dust to make the problem go away.
Most recently, Mel Gibson’s little tirade is being discussed as a PR problem for the star. It’s a PR problem which according to Laura Ries:
is going to be a huge obstacle for Mel Gibson to overcome. The future of his brand is in jeopardy. But the fact is that strong brands tend to survive even the worst crisis. Because the power of celebrity and the ability for stars to get PR allows them to come back. Time is also a necessary ingredient in the healing process. The most Mel can do right now is publicly take responsibility for his actions, ask for forgiveness, seek help for his addictions and do something to help heal wounds. He is doing all four already.
Her post is here. I’ll spare you the rest of the apologia.
Let’s get something straight here. Mel Gibson is an Anti-Semite. He’s a garden variety Jew baiter – the kid who threw rocks at the Yeshiva boys when they were walking home from school.
The “future of his brand” is not what’s at issue here. Honestly I have no care one way or another if Mel Gibson ever works in Hollywood again.
What astounds me is how marketing people like this can view something as despicable as anti-semitism through the rose-colored glasses of brand management.
One approach I do agree with is David Weinberger’s. Johnny Moore also has some thoughts.
