Jail - This Year's Press Junket
PR professionals around the world cringed Monday morning as Paris Hilton was sentenced to 45 days in jail - her publicist fared far worse. Elliott Mintz not only took the stand and “threw himself under the bus” to protect his client, he was thanked for his devotion and support with a pink slip.
Let’s face it, with the constant revelry that is Paris Hilton’s life, this guy certainly had his hands full from the start. She has had no shortage of media attention or scandal. She was thrust into the spotlight with an infamous video and continued to garner attention for all of her many misdeeds. For a PR professional, she is the epitome of crisis communications. Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if a case study or white paper doesn’t surface at some marketing conference in the near future.
Now, to add insult to injury, many industry experts are predicting that Paris’ upcoming incarceration will actually benefit her career (if you can call it that). If recent history is any indicator, they are right on the mark. After all, Martha Stewart seems no worse for wear after her time in the big house. One has to wonder why celebrities are lauded for their crimes, while their hard-working publicists carry the weight of their errors and seem to do all of their explaining. Poor Paris asked legal advice of Mr. Mintz. She obviously couldn’t afford an attorney, right?
And so, fellow PR professionals of the world, let this serve as a cautionary tale of the downside of representing a celebrity. It may seem glamorous and, sure, you get invited to the cool parties, but the next day you have to explain why your client was caught driving drunk on a suspended license with her best friend’s boyfriend.
For the rest of us common folk, let this be a reminder of just how lucky we are to represent our clients. Sure they get into trouble from time to time but then they ask for help and usually do what we advise. Our clients actually hire us to help them stay out of trouble, because they know that if you are not Paris Hilton, there is such a thing as bad publicity.
About the Author: Michelle Zimmerman
View more blog posts from Michelle Zimmerman >
Contact Michelle
2 comments so far
Navin says:
Hi guys. There is still a difference between something and nothing, but it is purely geometrical and there is nothing behind the geometry.
I am from Cape and learning to write in English, please tell me right I wrote the following sentence: "See our updated flea and tick control suggestions here."
Thanks for the help :p, Navin.
Phila says:
Good afternoon. By prizing heartfulness above faultlessness, we may reap more from our effort because we're more likely to be changed by it. Help me! I can not find sites on the: Locate dodge dealers. I found only this - colunmbus ohio dodge dealers. Our davie, fl dodge dealership always has a wide selection and low prices. Ford dealers ankeny dodge dealers ankeny jeep dealers ankeny ford dealers iowa dodge dealers iowa jeep dealers iowa ford I twurled news beta. :-( Thanks in advance. Phila from Emirates.