Have a look at this Post on this Blog, really worthwile…

I don’t think the affair rumors themselves need to be addressed, because they aren’t necessarily related. I also don’t think there need to be admissions of spousal abuse to the media. But I do think the he needs to cooperate with police enforcement for the sake of his image and his camp should release a more formal statement that makes sense.

Not talking to the cops, following an accident (deemed minor, though looking at pictures, I don’t know that I agree with that classification) that already seems suspicious is just asking for bad publicity.

As for Adam Lambert, I’m with you. Yes, it was controversial. Of course, not everyone liked it. There was not this much uproar when Madonna and Britney kissed during a live awards show. Everyone needs to have their “oh my god” moment if that’s how they feel, and get over it. He’s handling the whole thing well!

I think people tend to forget that Woods spoke after the crisis. He took responsibility for the accident. It’s just that people don’t like that response. They want the details of the affair, and he’s unlikely to provide those.

Tony

Thanks for the post. It’s always nice to see a PR professional’s take on another pro’s spin. Do you mind if I do the same?

1) It’s important to remember there is a difference between representing entertainers and corporations. People expect entertainers to do outrageous things. We think of it as part of their DNA, the part that makes them special. Acts that are out of bounds for common folk are accepted from entertainers and fans commonly overlook the indiscretions of their stars to buy albums. For example, we accept drug use from stars in way that we would never accept it from a co-worker or spouse. Brittney’s problems stemmed not from her life problems but from how her mental issues keep her from performing. Remember the video music awards?

2) For Tiger, it may be that there is nothing to be gained from talking to the police of media. Suppose the “real” story is the worst story, he and his wife had a fight about his affair, and he drove out of the house in the middle of the night to get away from his wife for a while. How do you spin that? I think they addressed the matter. Woods said he took responsibility for the accident. That should be the end of the story. Tiger was involved in a minor traffic accident, which would not have been a story had the media not first reported in was a serious accident. Tiger’s major issue is that he happened to crash his car on a slow news weekend.

Talking to the media or police forces him to answer questions about the affair, giving life to a story that will die soon enough, or at least it will die if the mistress remains mum. (By the way, what was a NYC night club hostess doing in halfway around the world entertaining clients? That’s her unbelievable cover story.)

3) Sponsors forgive infidelity, in time. For examples, see Jack Welch, Greg Norman and Kobe Bryant. The later has put rape charges behind him and remains a popular marketing figure for the NBA. Males stray. People get that and move one. Once the public adjusts to the new norm, everything settles back to normal, more or less.

4) For Jackson, death took the focus off his image/appearance and placed the spotlight on his place in musical history. The success of the movie and the focus on Jackson’s music remind us that this man wrote most of the hit songs for Thriller, the best selling album of all-time. As you say, death isn’t a recommended crisis control strategy, but it’s hard to speak ill of the death. Most people want to remember the good things about someone’s life, and if you are looking for the good in Jackson, there’s a lot to see.