Wednesday, February 11, 2009

The PR Game: Michael Phelps, A-Rod and Octu-Mom

Last night I presented a seminar about cost-effective promotional tools to small business owners. After my talk, we had a "round table" discussion about the media and we talked about Michael Phelps. The general consensus was that we appreciated his honesty. I had pointed out to the business owners that they need to be honest, especially if they were ever to face a "PR crisis." Not that they would be caught smoking out (or I hope not), but I felt Phelps' admission made him look human and give him a break, he's still a kid. I appreciate the fact that the companies who endorsed him gave him a second chance. He did exactly what he should have done and didn't hide behind lame excuses like a lot of these young athletes and stars do - he told the truth. I give him props for that. At least, he didn't knock himself up with sperm and have 14 kids. There are worse things.

Speaking of athletes, there's good ole A-Rod and the big media sensation surrounding his use of performance enhancing drugs. Good to know that he was hopped up on PEDs for the past three years; however, why are people shocked? This has been done before and it's not anything new in the media. The general public still acts "shocked" that a professional athlete would dare use PEDs. I don't agree that he should have used PEDs but when it comes to the PR game, we've seen this story played out before in the media.

Then there is my favorite media sensation: Octu-Mom. Actually, she is my least favorite of the publicity sensations out there right now. This woman knows exactly what she's doing and I think she's watched one too many episodes of Jon & Kate Plus Eight.

I've read articles begging the general public to give her a break. Why should we give this publicity hound a break? She's out to make a quick buck and people know it. It's old news that she has already hired two publicists (not one, but two publicists). I question the ethics of her publicists. I wouldn't take on her PR if she was the last client on this planet.

These PR hounds want to jump on the bandwagon due to the pretty penny they will receive as a result of her "celebrity" status. Greed, greed and more greed. This woman repulses me and her publicists repulse me even more. However, that's the name of the PR game.

Octu-Mom is jumping on the "Angelina Jolie" band wagon and is delusional to think she can take on star persona. Check out her collagen-injected lips - does that look familiar?

The PR game is cyclical and the media is always going to have a wannabe idiot who thinks they are the next star sensation (and there will always be an an athlete doing something illegal--that's a given).

The media has blamed the "economy" as to why the public is bashing Octu-Mom. I don't know who that journalist is but he's an idiot. The public is bashing this woman because she brought eight more babies into this world when she already has six kids. I feel sorry for those tiny eight babies who are still in the hospital struggling to survive (not to mention the taxpayers who are paying the bills). This woman is jobless, would have been homeless if her parents hadn't helped her, and owes $60,000 in student loans. If this woman couldn't afford to sustain herself and give the six kids she already has the basic necessities, then common sense would dictate that she shouldn't mosey on down to the sperm bank for more kiddos.

In Octu-Mom's case, "be careful what you wish for" because when it comes to the limelight, get ready for the punches because not all publicity is good publicity. It's a game and sometimes you're going to get your ass kicked.

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