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Blog | La La Land drops by the Oscars

30

Apr
2021

La La Land drops by the Oscars

Everyone in PR has had a cringe moment with a client.  The client misspeaks, can’t recall a critical point or is on the edge of the cliff of being incorrect.  But especially in the world of social media, always be very careful on making certain whatever you say is 100% true and you are honest in how you represent yourself.

What the Washington Post reported on Monday morning tracks with the rollercoasting we have seen trending online this week regarding an exchange between Lil Rey and superstar Glenn Close.

The Washington Post reported the following content Monday morning:

“Lil Rey waved his hand, asserting that Glenn Close, a 74-year-old native of Greenwich, Conn., would know nothing about the song playing, which was instantly familiar to many Washington-area natives.  “Wait a second,” Close said. “That’s ‘Da Butt.  It was a classic song by the great Washington, D.C., go-go band EU,” Close explained. “Shout-outs to Sugar Bear and the Backyard Band and the whole DMV.”  With that, the Oscars ceremony briefly went from unusual and a bit boring to positively lit.  (A certain reporter who grew up in the D.C. area screamed as the eight-time Oscar nominee name-checked two of the region’s most legendary go-go bands.)  Close went on to detail the 1988 song’s ill-fated history with the academy.”  Once more, there was life at the Oscar’s!”, wrote the Post.

But then the Gaffe Boomerang returned only minutes later.  The LA Times quickly reported that the exchange had been scripted and reality came home to LA once more.

PR Lesson here … never, ever misrepresent yourself to a reporter or Lil Rey even if you do live in La La Land.  If you’re seeking viral attention, you’ll sure get it.  However, that fame and attention you enjoyed for a moment will indeed be temporary … as well as damaging to your credibility and future reputation.

I’m Jim and I hang in Suite 250.