It can be quite difficult to source examples of effective crisis strategies in creative enterprise. Companies may be small, they may not have product that if defective could bring harm to the masses, inciting a recall, or even if a crisis occurred, would necessarily lead to financial ruin or impact enough jobs as to be considered newsworthy. Essentially, being portrayed negatively in the media is what is considered a ‘crisis’ rather than whatever was at fault in the first instance. This is undoubtedly due to the unpredictability of what character-revealing hue the media may taint their brush with when presented the opportunity to paint a picture of whatever business has managed the misfortune of unintentionally wandering into the spotlight. Even though being in the spotlight can be very good for business, a crisis is when a business finds itself in there for the wrong reasons.
The biggest business there is in creative enterprise is of course actors. Their sheer bankability provides millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs for each movie they secure, so much can be at stake if their reputation goes down and at the wrong time. When analysing public image and crisis management strategies, the business of being one person follows the same principles of those strategies being employed by companies and corporations because they are in themselves a brand. If a celebrity does not behave accordingly when a crisis occurs, especially when it is usually their behaviour that has caused the crisis, devastating consequences can ensue. They employ publicists just as companies procure PR personnel - for the management of crises and to nudge their image in the right direction, or at times, drag it kicking and screaming. Many act on their own volition, which can be very precarious if they were a big company. But celebrities are probably the easiest for the public to forgive, as after all it is their job to entertain and a public discretion is hardly akin to a situation such as a large toy manufacturer producing their latest line of product which has just caused several child fatalities due to toxic parts. The methods they employ during scandals can be measured by textbook crisis management procedures on a smaller scale humanly while generally on a much larger scale publically.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. CRISIS MANAGEMENT
3. THE BOTTOM LINE: ACT FAST
4. CONTRITION AND DIFFUSION
5. ANGELINA JOLIE AND THE ART OF MISDIRECTION
6. CONCLUSION
Research Objectives and Topics
The work explores the principles of crisis management applied to celebrities, examining how individual public figures manage their brand reputation, respond to scandals, and utilize strategies like contrition or misdirection to navigate public scrutiny.
- Theoretical frameworks of crisis management in a professional context.
- The impact of speed, humility, and personal responsibility on crisis resolution.
- The role of media relations and humor in mitigating reputational damage.
- Case studies of celebrity crisis management (Hugh Grant, David Letterman, Michael Richards, and Angelina Jolie).
- The effectiveness of long-term reputation management through tactical misdirection.
Excerpt from the Book
CONTRITION AND DIFFUSION
Of these kinds of instances, Michael Levine, ‘a publicist considered one of Hollywood's top crisis management experts’ (Miller, 1996) says ‘go fast, go humble’ (McDougal, 2006, p.1) and states that ‘the case of the actor Hugh Grant was the standard for successful damage control’.
Hugh Grant is often cited as textbook for how to handle a scandal. Upon getting caught with a prostitute in 1995, he didn't pretend it was anything other than what it was: an example of shockingly bad judgment. Soon after, he went on the talk show circuit and in the midst of his self-deprecating quips made it clear that he had wronged and was sorry.
The actor was quickly forgiven, as evidenced by the success of his first post-scandal film, Nine Months. In today's dollars, the flick grossed some $92.2 million in the U.S.
"But once the public feels a celebrity is trying to pull something over on them... they will be much less willing to forgive." (Lacey, 2007)
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: Establishes the premise that celebrities, functioning as brands, require professional crisis management to maintain their reputation in the media spotlight.
CRISIS MANAGEMENT: Defines the nature of a crisis as a disruptive event requiring a reactive response and highlights key best practices for media engagement.
THE BOTTOM LINE: ACT FAST: Discusses the necessity of swift action in crisis situations and illustrates the negative consequences of avoiding responsibility through the example of Mel Gibson.
CONTRITION AND DIFFUSION: Examines how humility and admitting fault can effectively defuse a scandal, using Hugh Grant's response to his 1995 arrest as a primary model.
ANGELINA JOLIE AND THE ART OF MISDIRECTION: Analyzes how celebrity image can be managed through the tactical shifting of topics and strategic use of media opportunities to deflect negative attention.
CONCLUSION: Summarizes the varying approaches to crisis management and reflects on the long-term sustainability of using misdirection versus genuine accountability.
Keywords
Crisis management, celebrity, reputation, media, public relations, accountability, contrition, misdirection, scandal, Hugh Grant, Angelina Jolie, damage control, brand, public image, news coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this work primarily about?
This work explores how celebrities, as personal brands, navigate career-damaging scandals and manage their public image through specific crisis management strategies.
What are the central themes of the publication?
The central themes include the speed of response, the importance of taking personal responsibility, the strategic use of media relations, and the effectiveness of different approaches like humility versus misdirection.
What is the primary objective of this research?
The objective is to analyze and compare various crisis management strategies by evaluating the successes and failures of high-profile celebrities in the media spotlight.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a qualitative analysis approach, drawing upon public relations theories and real-world case studies to evaluate strategic effectiveness in crisis communications.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The main body details theoretical definitions of a crisis, examines specific case studies like Hugh Grant, David Letterman, Michael Richards, and Angelina Jolie, and discusses best practices such as transparency and humor.
How would you characterize this work using keywords?
It is characterized by terms such as crisis management, reputation, public relations, media manipulation, and celebrity branding.
Why is Hugh Grant considered a model for successful damage control?
He is considered a model because he acted quickly, took full personal responsibility, displayed humility, and utilized humor, which allowed him to successfully defuse his scandal.
How does Angelina Jolie’s approach differ from the traditional crisis management model?
Unlike models that emphasize total transparency, Jolie utilizes "misdirection," where she strategically shifts public attention to new topics to deflect from negative scandals and maintain her reputation.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Nick Birch (Autor:in), 2009, Celebrity crisis management strategies, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/269671
