PR Disasters

PNPR Ltd Newsletter No. 1010

More PR Disasters

BA Hits High Turbulence over Crosses

Just days after that cuddly, sweet-smiling, honey-tongued old Jack Straw, the veteran Labour politician, caused a storm by asking Muslim ladies to remove their full-face veils when addressing him, BA fell headlong into the same hole.

This time it wasn’t Muslims being offended, but Christians. BA decided that wearing a cross and displaying it was taboo for its staff.

Well, whoever dreamt up that wheeze and chose to enforce it at such a sensitive time? So absurd were both Straw and BA that the Archbishop of Canterbury weighed in. “Oi, now look here, this is a free country and people can wear whatever religious symbols they like!” he intoned or words to that effect.

Which is worse? Clothes fascism or religious intolerance of little symbols which have big meaning for those wearing them? Isn’t it a criminal offence to wear a cross in public in Saudi Arabia? So, now, it seems, BA are going down that road.

Jewellery may not be allowed for their staff in uniform, but a small cross is hardly jewellery in the bling sense. Now BA have become the object of public anger and ridicule, which is hardly the image designed to pull in customers.

But thanks for an object lesson in PR disasters which tipped the world’s favourite airline into a spectacular tail spin.

**

Macca: the Whiff of Burning Martyr, Courtesy Heather??

Heather Mills McCartney’s advisers adopted a very risky strategy, if indeed they had anything to do with the leaking of the divorce petition, alleging that Macca had attacked her in a drunken rage. This was an outrageous allegation in every sense, whether true or not, and then to allow it into the tabloids was even worse.

It reflected badly on her camp for letting it happen. It questioned their motives, and it had no account for the effect it would have either on their three year old daughter in years to come, or on public opinion today.

Divorce is ghastly at any time. And to wage PR wars – for whose benefit??? – by leaking the most sensitive of documents to a salivating press and prurient public, is surely a disastrous strategy.

Commentators claim that the petition was leaked to the papers in anger as McCartney had withdrawn security cover to Heather even when she was with their daughter. Really? Well, why then is she suing the publishers who ran the story in such graphic detail? Unless, it’s an elaborate, expensive double bluff.

In brief, a nasty mess, which helps no one. Except Sir Paul who is maintaining a Trappist silence.

Copyright Paul Nathanson

PR Tip of the Month. Sometimes saying nothing a la Macca can be the best and most difficult approach to publicity. You maintain dignity and avoid distortion.


PR Disasters - To learn more about this author, visit Paul Nathanson's Website.

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