Posted on 06/05/2017 6:42:04 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Seasoned public relations people understand that the press conference is probably the worst setting for any loose-tongued client, especially one ready to pick a fight.
Think Donald Trump on his worst day — which is pretty awful — Or Mel Gibson after his anti-Semitic tirade. Or Michael “Kramer” Richards after his racist meltdown.
Exposing these ticking time bombs to nasty media questions in an uncontrolled environment is PR suicide. Indeed, no PR person worth his or her hourly rate would ever recommend a press conference when a more controllable sit-down interview would do.
If you doubt that wisdom, consider America’s latest celebrity, self-immolation poster child, Kathy Griffin, who on the advice of her trusted legal counsel, held a press conference and ruined a career, all in one disastrous swoop.
That Griffin’s attorney, Lisa Bloom, would suggest that her Trump severed head-holding client “clear the air” with a press conference isn’t surprising. Attorney Bloom, the poor woman’s Gloria Allred, has made a living using the media to plead her cases.
Bloom may be an expert in handling the press, but her client most definitely isn’t. And Griffin’s disastrous, jaw-dropping press conference should be an object lesson for any public relations counselor tempted to suggest a similar course for a client.
Here’s how the comedian used the press conference to torch her livelihood.
Apologize and mean it
When you’ve done something egregiously wrong — as Tiger Woods or Kobe Bryant or Michael Phelps, or now, Kathy Griffin did — then apologize and shut up.
At first, Griffin used her press conference to reiterate that she was wrong to channel ISIS with Trump’s severed head, but then, without missing a beat, she shifted the blame to Trump, Meanie Melania and the rest of the family.
“A sitting President of the United States and his grown children and the first lady are personally trying to ruin my life forever. You guys know him, he’s not going to stop.”
In other words, the Griffin “apology” was merely a convenient segue to get to the real heart of the matter — the insensitivity of the clan and the man who simply couldn’t take a “joke.”
Quit whining
While one valid goal of a press conference is to earn empathy for an offender demonstrating contrition, nobody likes a whiner.
For example, CNBC was properly pilloried last week when it permitted poor, picked upon Hillary Clinton an hour of free air time to complain ad nauseam once again about how she was denied the Presidency.
So, too, at her press conference, a sobbing Griffin droned on about how she had spent her career as an itinerant mid-level comedian, wandering from comedy club to comedy club, regularly subject to the “bullying” of “older white men.”
One wondered if the “older white men bullies” Ms. Griffin referenced included Sen. Al Franken, who disinvited her to a book signing, or the nasty gents at Squatty Potty, who fired her as spokeswoman, or those evil suits at CNN who “severed” their New Year’s Eve relationship with her.
Equally conjectural was how many converts to her side the crying comic could expect from such a cringe worthy, whining performance.
It’s not about you
If you’ve called a press conference to deliver one message — how sorry you are for what you’ve done — stick to that message and move on.
When Bryant and Woods spoke to the press about their philandering, each directed his remarks to his aggrieved wife and family. When Phelps apologized for his drug-taking and drinking, he directed his comments to the fans he’d let down.
But when Kathy Griffin offered her public mea culpa, it was a lot more “mea” than “culpa.” After grieving about the mean, online attacks and death threats she’d received, Griffin sputtered, “I’m not good at being appropriate. I’m only good at doing comedy one way. It’s in your face. I’m going to make fun of the President. And I’m going to do it more now.”
On the other hand, maybe not, as she added …
“I don’t think I’ll have a career after this. I’m going to be honest, he broke me.”
Not exactly.
What really ” broke” Kathy Griffin was a dumb and tasteless stunt to get publicity and an even dumber press conference to try to wriggle out.
***
Fraser P. Seitel has been a communications consultant, author and teacher for 40 years. He is the author of the Prentice- Hall text “The Practice of Public Relations,” now in its eleventh edition, and co-author of “Rethinking Reputation" and "Idea Wise.” He may be reached directly at yusake@aol.com.
#### her.
and hillary.
Dems NEVER take the blame for anything.
“Think Donald Trump on his worst day — which is pretty awful”
This dumbass author only wishes...
I’ll be perfectly happy if her career is over! She knew she was doing dumb thing and did it anyway! Actions have consequences!
She basically blamed the backlash on Trump for calling her beheading video “sick”. Was he supposed to say it was “funny”?
I thought she had a great press conference.
Everyone had an opportunity to see the real Kathy.
She’s really a jackass and everyone could see that.
I call that a success.
Anyone stupid enough to get involved with senior parasite Allred or junior parasite Bloom deserves her fate.
Any competent attorney will advise a client to shut up asap. If damaged, seek a settlement or a trial. If guilty, don’t give the press, the public or the prosecutor ammunition.
Allred/Bloom consistently violate this simple and obvious rule and go the PR route since their only concern is Allred/Bloom.
A Leftist non-apology still trying to smear. Not good for Journalists.
Lisa Bloom used Kathy Griffin to get publicity for herself even if it meant stabbing Kathy in the back. Kathy should have known better than to hire Lisa Bloom.
Did she have her “prop” with her?
I don’t get it.
Kathy Griffin says Trump broke her, and she is losing her career and all that.
Is this really what’s happening?
Many places which had booked her to entertain have canceled on her.
However, the management of all those places decided to cancel her. It’s not like Trump compelled all these venues to cancel the Kathy Griffin show.
Because of her own behavior, she made all these places (in consultation with their lawyers, I’m sure), decide that they will cancel Kathy Griffin rather than let her do her show.
That she sees her career dissolving, and those who normally host her show baling out, is completely due to Kathy’s own actions.
This seems a major point to me, which seems to be getting lost in the back and forth about Trump is mean to her, what about freedom of speech, why is the Secret Service picking on her, and other ancillary issues which aren’t the core of this.
OSTRACIZE.
Shunning would be a good start.
Well, Lisa Bloom didn’t exactly come out of it smelling like a rose either. She did herself no favors with that “allegedly” crack about Baron.
When ya lose squatty potty, ya lost everything ...
Anyone who has ever totally messed up will usually develop an explanation which becomes as polished as a worry stone. Told often and fine tuned as to become an ingrained automatic response to the why’s and wherefore’s.
It is also called denial, and is lying’s first cousin.
I did too. The RNC should give her a bonus.
She seems to be having a hard time accepting that her peers have turned their back on her.
Not to overly criticize, but the PR dude still has an AOL email account? Kinda pigeon holes the guy.
I suppose one day my grand kids will laugh at my gmail account.
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