Yes and No.
"There's no such thing as bad publicity."
For example, the way the Press openly lies when it talks about consevatives angers me. When the press gets my religion wrong I get bothered too. But then I think of it in the bigger picture. When the Mainstream media states falsely, "Mormons believe XYZ", I can then take the opportunity to clarify, expound and blather on about what I really believe.
The rumor mill was ripe when Jesus walked the earth. A lot of lies were said about him and he was eventually killed on the cross for some of the lies. But just about anyone who was anyone had heard about "this Jesus" fellow. Most people have heard about Mormons today because of many of the media lies told about it over the years.
Interesting. I thought he was crucified as a result of blasphemy, which required the death penalty. The charge of blasphemy was true.