Where’s the PR? Make no mistake, the issues surrounding the Bill Cosby incident are bigger than just public relations. It has turned the corner to a downright creepy, unlawful series of escapades with little ambiguity, similar accounts and fewer and fewer Cosby supporters. And although the statute of limitations may have run its course for a criminal prosecution on most of the allegations, this may not be the case with a minor (at the time) who has come forward and is certainly not the case for civil lawsuits.
Rather than running out of steam replaced with the next big scandal, the story just keeps going and growing. Could part of it be because of his continued silence? His arrogant attitude? His in-your-face denials via an attorney? All of the above? The court of public opinion has shifted from not believing anything offensive about Cliff Huxtable to questioning the rumors to condemnation of a disturbed sexual predator.
Would the story have had a different path if Cosby had an immediate PR strategy (and quickly opened his checkbook to his victims)? John Undeland, President of Undeland Associates, a strategic communications firm, discusses reputation management for Cosby from a public relations standpoint in this clip from The Marketing Mojo Show.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/180768078″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
For daily marketing communications news, subscribe to LGK’s free, online, MarCom Digest.