Why Has celebrity PR done a complete 180 in the past 10 years?

I want to propose the question "is any publicity good publicity?" In todays day in age celebrities are in dire need of getting any sort of publicity whether it be good or bad. Anything to get their name in the tabloids or media in any way is a successful day in the world of celebrity PR. What happened to old Hollywood where any form of "bad publicity" would ruin your career? Its seems that nothing is based on how good or talented you are, its about how bad you can be. As was mentioned in the article, Entertainment publicists are like body guards for their clients. They are no longer writing about how fabulous their clients are, instead they are doing major damage control.

For example: Paris Hilton going to jail. You think this would ruin her career, or somewhat set her back a notch. But instead the night Paris was released from jail every media outlet was there to cover it. It was a HUGE event in the media and made her even more "famous". The buzz the next day and headlines on articles were "where to get the outfit Paris wore out of jail." This brings me to my next question: What ever happened to the term earned media? Certainly, Paris didn't earn her way into the media by going to jail. Compare Paris Hilton with Natalie Portman. You can't deny Natalie Portmans celebrity status. However, the coverage Natalie gets in the media is positive. She gets positive PR, you don't ever hear about her being intoxicated on the streets of Hollywood or who she is hooking up with. Instead you hear about her talented work in her movies and things she values. Natalie has been an advocate for animal rights, and environmental causes since childhood. But yet, who gets more media coverage? I think we all know the obvious answer to this question.

I would love to hear your feedback....

Bad Publicity: Why are so many stars becoming PR nightmares?

window.google_render_ad();
Bad Publicity: Why are so many stars becoming PR nightmares? January 15th, 2008 22:27 EST
LaShelle Turner

Another meltdown or another leaked sex tape, welcome to the world of celebrity public life. Hollywood has gone wild. Even fame by association is at an all-time high. Casual acquaintances, scorned former lovers and relatives are selling out stars for their own piece of notoriety. Good or bad, everyone is trying to get his or her name out there. All you need is a little public humiliation and your show biz career is guaranteed to take off.

Why do stars insist on displaying such outrageous behavior? They must know that the hookup after the club is more likely to have a camera phone and ready to post their star encounter on You Tube. They must know it is illegal to drink and drive even in Hollywood. So, why risk the public disgrace? Has the mug shot become just another publicity photo?

In today’s world, the more outrageous the star, the more popular they are to the public. We live in the age of the "scandal celebrity," celebrities famous only for being scandalous. They may or may not have any real talent, but we do not know for sure. They are too busy making fools of themselves so they can get on the front page of the tabloids. Then, after the predictable stint to rehab, comes the act of public attrition. They begin appearing on every entertainment show known to man to personally air out their dirty laundry.
One has to ask, is there any such thing as bad publicity?

Today’s celebrities seem to openly court public embarrassment. Back in the golden age of Hollywood or even just ten years ago, stars guarded their privacy like Fort Knox. In the old days, movie studios and record companies protected their star’s reputation. Scandals didn’t become public information until the star decided to write a tell-all memoir at the end of their career-- or long after they died and their offspring didn’t like what their famous mommy or daddy left them in the will.

Scandals used to be career killers. Just look at the demise of the careers of Charlie Chaplin and Ingrid Bergman. Now, scandals are career starters and re-igniters. Look at the career of Pamela Anderson and Britney Spears. These two women are walking scandal magnets.
Publicists, who were once gatekeepers of secrets, now are merely public apologists. Acting more like security guards, they react only when something bad happens. They are the ones on the front line combating media questions after the star has obviously lied to the public and media. Hollywood publicists deserve combat pay.

Publicity is now a 24-hour business. With even the respected news outlets covering celebrity gossip, stars can get more exposure. There is more competition for breaking the story first and getting that all- important exclusive. Most of us are just one headline away from notoriety. Fame can happen, seemingly, by accident.

Though fame is easier to achieve, it is also harder to keep. We are constantly on the look out for the next big thing or person. To have a longer entertainment career, you keep having to one up yourself each time. There is more pressure to keep your name on everyone’s lips. It is better to have people talking about you, then not talking about you. Hence the old saying, all publicity is good publicity.

Maybe we, the fans, are partly to blame for all this celebrity overkill. We have become a culture obsessed with sensationalism. No one wants to read happy celeb stories. It is easier to find pleasure in a star’s breakdown or breakup. Hence, all the "Brad and Angie are on the verge of break up" magazine covers.

With all the chaos, drama and lack of privacy, who in their right mind would want to be famous? Maybe fame is for crazy people, because if you’re not crazy, then you’ll soon be.
Britney Spears asks, "Do you want a piece of me?" After watching her on Entertainment Tonight and reading about her downward spiral in OK magazine, the answer is, "No."

What sparked my interest in PR?

I studied history and political science at U of T. While living in Toronto I started pursuing an acting career. I decided to move to Los Angeles to study acting more in depth. That year long experience is what sparked my interest in public relations. I was very lucky to be part of many different PR special events through volunteer work. While in Los Angeles my eye's were really opened to the world of "celebrity" and the emphasis placed on them and the competition to get into to Media. I have chosen to focus my blog around celebrity PR and the concept of " all publicity is good publicity vs. real PR". Stay tuned for the good...the bad...and the ugly!!!