How do you become famous?
It’s a question that has puzzled me for years. The easiest answer is to do something shocking! The more shocking, the more tabloid headlines you can grab. There’s no doubt controversy sells. But you have to be careful, there is a fine line between shocking and out and out unacceptable
Take Russell Brand here.
There he was career progressing nicely. Pushing the limits of acceptability, shocking people right left and centre, but increasing his popularity. Then he does a radio show with Jonathan Ross where he goes too far. It’s been unimaginatively dubbed “Sachsgate” in the predictable and tiresome way that tabloids since the Watergate scandal have twisted the words to reference a situation which is as far from similar as it is possible to get! I don’t agree with what they did, but the obsession with the story was totally bewildering and out of proportion!
Anyway, I digress, he’s became persona non grata for a while. For months, in fact! Time to do some repair work. But as the saying goes “Today’s news is tomorrow’s chip paper”!
And what do people love their celebrities to do? What’s the failsafe, Get out of Jail Free option?
Get married, of course!
Now he’s got engaged to Katy Perry, zap he’s popular again! Public forgiveness and problem solved! Although the journalists are still muttering!
I’m not suggesting that the engagement is a publicity stunt, just pointing out how public opinion can turn on a hatpin!
Now, if I could just figure out a publicity stunt like that!
