The PR Stunt Game: Will Smith's Next Move

Will Smith's glance at the Oscars has put him in a precarious position. Now, it's time to pay the piper. The Academy will surely make numerous raw decisions. Thank you, Lytiek Katrina, for the reminder.

A Fake Apology and Behind the Scenes

Will has already made his move. A crocodile tear apology, penned by his public relations team, was given the day after the incident. I believe he thinks he has done everything necessary to regain the public's and industry's love.

Strategic Approaches to Recovery

His first PR maneuver was to issue a fake apology. He’s temporizing, watching public reaction. If enough support his violent physical attack, he may back off any apology. If the majority abhors his behavior, he’ll use his acting skills to seek forgiveness.

Lessons from My Past: Local News Producer

I used to work in television news right after college, first as a local news producer in a small market and later as a writer for both undergraduate and graduate school newspapers. Even though it’s been almost a decade, I still believe some of the basics still apply when trying to convey a client's message to the public.

Public Relations vs. Political Campaigns

Back then, famous actors or musicians were not keen on talking with the press and were sometimes quite rude. On the other hand, politicians and their campaigns were more excited and polite to talk with local news organizations. I found it really odd, but politicians interviews were often more beneficial and exciting than those of music stars or actors.

Modern Media and Celebrity Hosting

Now, things in the media world are very different. Many movie stars and celebrities no longer use public relations for everyday events; it’s now just a Tweet or Instagram photo. It’s clear when a famous person lacks the proper communication skills—think Nick Cannon and the Empire cast.

Will Smith's Media Shift

Will's incident has garnered significant attention, and it highlights the importance of proper communication. Recently, there has been a trend of famous people trying to be in the news or hosting roles as talk show hosts. This can be beneficial for a few weeks, but it often dilutes their content quality.

Recent Examples in TV Hosting

The recent examples of Drew Barrymore, Vivica Fox, and Nick Cannon show some of the strengths and weaknesses in celebrity hosting the news. The strength is an automatic large audience or buzz for a week or two. However, the weakness is that they still have to do business or 'break bread' with the people they are talking about, which can affect their output.

Red Table Talk and Future Directions

Debuted after cheating rumors, Red Table Talk initially seemed to work for a little while. However, the recent Oscars incident reveals that their team wanted them to be more active on social media and try to channel or protect their brand or 'image.' Will and Jada have been inconsistent with their messaging, and their open marriage has hurt their family-friendly image.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

I think the couple is trying to figure out where to go with their image, the messages they want to communicate to the public, and whether they want to continue in the space of Red Table Talk or move towards a celebrity chat or gossip show. Time will tell how the Oscars will handle this and the legal implications, but it's clear that Will Smith's next PR stunt will be closely watched.