Archive for the ‘Robert-Downey-Jr.’ Category

Did Lindsay Lohan Play the Race Card?

July 30, 2007

Motivating young people (OK, anyone) to take responsibility for their actions is tough.  It’s exponentially harder when that person apparently has substance abuse problems.

But that doesn’t mean you can blame others for your latest driving under the influence arrest, especially “the black kid.”

America is the land of second chances, if you’re willing to acknowledge you have a problem, made mistakes and are taking steps to move on  That’s the first tenet of crisis communications. 

People will be skeptical, especially if they’ve been burned by your lies, but if you can show you mean it, they’ll root for you.  From movie star to imprisoned drug addict to movie star, Robert Downey Jr. made that transformation–and didn’t blame anybody but himself.

Posted in Robert-Downey-Jr., crisis-communications, lindsay-lohan | 2 Comments »

Let Paris Go

June 9, 2007

Let Paris Hilton out of jail.  What is gained by breaking a butterfly on the wheel?

For those howling for her head, the point is made.  Rich people and girls who just want to have fun suffer too. She did a few days in jail, just like the common people would do for a minor, non-violent first-time DUI.  (Many would probably not do any time at all.)  Let her do home confinement, or just let her go.

For those demanding she be punished, let he who is righteous, who has never had a few drinks and gotten behind the wheel, cast the first stone.  U.S. Supreme Court Justice Scalia’s daughter, to name only one, was arrested for DUI with three kids in her car.  She got probation and community service.

And for those who think “celebrity justice” is a joke, remember that not every celebrity gets off scot-free.  Heidi Fleiss, celebrity madam, served 3 years in Federal prison; the clients of her prostitution services served not a single day.   Oscar-nominated actor (can’t wait to see him in Jon Favreau’s Iron Man) served a hellish year in California state prison for drug offenses.

Who did they–or Paris Hilton–hurt?

Posted in Heidi-Fleiss, Iron-Man, Jon-Favreau, Justice-Scalia, Paris-Hilton, Robert-Downey-Jr., celebrity-justice | 3 Comments »