This pictre is courtesy of People.com

Ashlee Simpson, punk-pop singer, and Pete Wentz, bassist for Fall Out Boy, announced their engagement this week. The two musicians told their fans on friendsorenemies.com by writing, “Yes, we are thrilled to share that we are happily engaged. Thank you for all of your support and well wishes – it means the world to us. We consider this to be a very private matter, and we wanted to be the first to tell you and to hear it straight from us.” People reports that both Jessica Simpson and their father, Joe Simpson, are very excited about the news. Joe expressed he was “so excited to have Pete as a part of his (our) family.”

Ashlee told People, “He has an awesome personality and kind of brings out the best of me and I knew that even before we were dating.” Wentz said, “We’re past the honeymoon period. The truth is its crazy to be able to kiss your best friend. It’s just a really awesome thing.”

Their publicists gave great advice by having the two announce their engagement to their fans via the Internet. It was a quick and easy way to cover many bases. Because they told their fans directly, the fans feel more intimately involved and connected. This generates deeper devotion to the two musicians. Also, the publicists are doing a great job of getting different quotations from family into the media. This especially pertains to Ashlee’s father, who has previously been accused of being very important factor in Jessica’s breakup with Nick Lachey. His support of this engagement gives hope to the relationship.

I give my best to Ashlee and Pete, and hope that they have a long and happy life together!

In my opinion, it was a great idea for Madonna to collaborate with Justin Timberlake. As an older artist she is able to retain her loyal fans while continuing to gain younger fans through her relationship with Justin. Additionally, Madonna looks absolutely fabulous at 49 years of age, and appears to keep up with Timberlake, who is only 27 years old. Madonna’s physical appearance and dance moves make the singers seem closer in age which adds to Madonna’s redeeming image.

I heard “4 Minutes” on the radio yesterday, and was very impressed. The collaboration has a hip, fun sound and a catchy tune. Timberlake’s signature sound is apparent in the track, but is not overbearing.  Madonna continues to impress me with her talent, and original voice.

If I were Madonna’s publicist, I would book collaborative performances with the two artists on David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Jimmy Kimmel. In addition, I would get an interview with them in Rolling Stone, and possibly one in a magazine geared to teens. This would successfully communicate Madonna’s new album and single release to many different target markets. Finally, I would help promote by getting the new video on MTV’s popular show, TRL.

This event, set to air on Wednesday, April 9^th, 2008 has a long list of celebrities who plan to attend. According to Access Hollywood, some stars planning to attend this year are: Celine Dion, Robin Williams, Forest Whitaker, Dane Cook and “High School Musical” stars Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens. These are new participants of the “Idol Gives Back” event, and will be joining the existing list of celebrities who attended last year. The veterans, if I may call them that, are U2’s Bono, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon, Miley Cyrus, Mariah Carey, Eli and Peyton Manning, Fergie, Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Annie Lennox, John Legend, Snoop Dogg, Maroon 5, and Gloria Estefan.

In my opinion these celebrities are using their fame and fortune for a great cause. If I were a celebrity, and had the option to attend an event such as this one, I would definitely take the opportunity. Children all over the world are going to feel the benefits of the proceeds generated from this event. If I were any of these celebrities’ publicists I would try to get my client’s name into any print or online article about the event “Idol Gives Back.” This will create a positive view of the celebrity, most likely causing the common person to feel more connected to them. In addition, rising stars such as Ashley Tisdale can help their celebrity image. For example, Tisdale can get positve media coverage which will help counteract recent criticism about her nose job. 

This picture is courtesey of abcnews.com.

The Santa Monica Police Department was called from Owen Wilson’s home at 12:08:16 p.m. on Sunday, August 26, 2007. The police report confirmed the call was about an attempted suicide by Wilson. Us Weekly reported that Owen was found with a slashed left wrist, and under the influence of pills. He was found by his brother Luke Wilson, taken to St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, and later moved to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. According to the New York Post , Cedars-Sinai spokes-woman Cynthia Harding confirmed that Wilson “is here and in good condition.” MTV.com reported that Wilson’s publicist spoke the following statement on her client’s behalf: “I respectfully ask that the media allow me to receive care and heal in private during this difficult time.” It is uncertain why Owen Wilson resorted to suicidal behavior, but causes have been traced to both his break up with former co-star Kate Hudson, and a fight with a friend. According to US Weekly Magazine he struggled with Cocaine and Heroine addictions, but a rep for Owen unyieldingly refutes these claims.

The mainstream media gave a brief overview of the situation, but for the most part did not delve into hurtful slanders about Wilson’s suicide attempt. Although it is hard for something such as an attempted suicide to be considered favorable in the media, the media coverage wasn’t all that bad, or at least not as bad as it could have been. Of course, there are mysteries as to why this occurred. Along with mysteries come allegations, but much of the media were sensitive to the issue. A couple of the mainstream Web sites attempted to target Owen as a Heroine and Cocaine abuser, but this was not common amongst the majority of publications. The most commonly emphasized part of the story was Owen’s statement requesting the media to let him “receive care and heal in private.” Along with this, another highly reported aspect was the causes of the suicide attempt. Some of the headlines were “Drugs, Friend Could Have Influenced Owen,” “Owen Wilson Hospitalized, in ‘Good Condition,” “Owen Wilson Suicide Attempt Confirmed,” and “The Darker Side of Owen Wilson.” The photos at every single website I researched were very flattering of Wilson. Not one of them was a picture with a crazy ‘going out’ scene, or of him looking indecent.His publicist, unnamed sources, neighbors, and other celebrities were quoted more than Wilson, possibly because Owen was never directly quoted. Even the publicist kept communication simple and short. The only thing that was repeated by the publicist was Owen Wilson’s direct words, which I mentioned earlier in the post. Law enforcement was also referenced by saying, “The person was transported to a local hospital where they are being treated.” This statement was made before it was confirmed that Wilson was the patient. To support the claim that the media was sensitive to his issue, I found no articles that had quotations from enemies or rival celebrities.

The media portrayed Owen Wilson neither as a crazy person, nor as a stable one. The fact that he had a problem was evident, but the media did not beat him while he was down. Much of this approach had to do, in my opinion, with the fact that the news of his suicide attempt was so sudden and unexpected. To Hollywood, the media and his fans, Wilson seemed like a happy-go-lucky guy. I think the media recognized this, and accepted his request to let him receive private care. I scanned the Internet for various articles in mainstream media and blogging Web sites to compare and contrast the content. Many of the bloggers expressed their sympathy for Owen, while focusing on how shocking the news was. Even Perez Hilton warned kids that, “Suicide is never a good option…DON’T do it!”The mainstream media focused more on quotations of reliable sources and facts of the story. Both were supportive and wanted the best for Owen Wilson, whether that was communicated with subtle cues like in the mainstream media, or exact words from the blogs.

Wilson’s publicist did a great job with this crisis situation. Every crisis with celebrities is different, and an event like this needed to be handled with extra care. First of all, the publicist kept the message simple and honest. It was also delivered quickly, which gave the media little time to react. Finally, because the publicist spoke on behalf of Wilson, it made the released statement more credible and personal because they were Owen’s real words. From an outside view, such as media and fans, this made the situation real, relational, and heartbreaking for everyone. I would not have done anything different as Owen Wilson’s publicist.

Thankfully, Wilson is attempting to bounce back from his dangerous ways. He starred in “The Darjeeling Limited” which was released this past October, and has taken some time off from his acting career to repair his life. Since the suicide attempt, he dropped out of “Tropic Thunder,” a movie which he was supposed to star in with Ben Stiller. I really hope, for his sake, that he is on the road to true happiness!  

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Sources Used:

Mainstream Medai Coverage: http://www.tmz.com/2007/08/28/report-confirms-owen-wilson-attempted-suicide/

                                              http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1657561,00.html

                                              http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1568417/story.jhtml

                                              http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20053358,00.html

                                              http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=3526977

                                              http://www.nypost.com/seven/08282007/news/nationalnews/owen_in_suicide_attempt.htm

                                              http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20053738,00.html

Blogs: http://www.fafarazzi.com/gossip/200973/2007-shocking-headlines-owen-wilsons-suicide-attempt

            http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/08/26/breaking-owen-wilson-suicide-attempt/

            http://perezhilton.com/?p=4498

            http://everyoneneedstherapy.blogspot.com/2007/09/owen-wilsons-suicide-attempt.html

 Ali wants to be in the spotlight just as bad as the next person. “Being there, being on camera, or onstage, with everybody listening to you … it’s so cool when people look up to you. I’ve already been asked for my autograph and it’s just a really good feeling to have,” Ali said to People Magazine.  If I were Ali’s publicist I would begin by emphasizing to Ali that Lindsay has set an awful example for the way Ali should behave in Hollywood. I would make sure that she was stable enough to handle possible fame, and confirm her family/father issues were solved. Secondly, I would limit my references to Lindsey in any promotional activities so that Ali starts fresh and without any preconceptions driven by her sister’s poor behavior. Ali expressed to people how bad she wanted fame in saying, she wants it “really bad, so bad. So bad you don’t even know.” I hope the Ali can succeed in this industry, even against all the odds she may have against her.

This picture is courtesy of Sportswrap.

Vince Young, starting quarterback for the Tennessee Titans, is heading back to class to finish his degree at The University of Texas at Austin. This is a wise decision from the 2005 National Champion who is and will always be a hero in Austin, Texas. In an article from TexasSports Young says, “I just basically wanted to come back and finish up. I wanted to show, not only myself, but also my family and other people that I could do it. School is key.” 

Vince is able to reside in Austin for most of the spring semester because he has time off from his demanding professional football career. His schedule is more flexible, and the Titans are willing to work with him on this issue. “I’m taking 12 hours on campus and three hours online. I didn’t want my schedule to be too packed because of the fact that there are times that I’m going to have to go back to Nashville.” If he passes all of these classes, Vince will be able to walk the stage this coming May.

In my opinion, this decision is noteworthy. I applaud him for his tremendous efforts in going back to school and completing his degree sequence. It takes some guts as a 24, going on 25 year old man, to swallow his pride and finish up school. On top of this, the fact of  the matter is that he doesn’t need the education, per se, because he is already making millions of dollars. It is this exact reason that we applaud him. His publicist, and the publicist for the Tenessee Titans, should use his return to school as a positive promotion for both Young and the team. It shows the team’s support of Vince, which ultimately portrays the team as an ethical and caring organization. As Mr. Young’s publicist, I would have Vince make as many appearances at school events while he was back in town because it shows his loyalty to his roots. I saw Young at the Kansas vs. Texas basketball game two weeks ago. He received a standing ovation from the entire stadium. It is in these ways that he will be able to keep his name alive and well with new University of Texas students who may have not been here when Young played.

In addition, I would have held a “going away” party for Vince Young right before he left Tennessee, and would have invited sports magazines, and other publications. I would have also had a fan contest where I gave away free passes to the party to a few lucky fans. This party would give post season hype for Vince Young, along with a celebration of seasons to come.

Kanye West, an acclaimed nominee and award winner at the 2008 Grammy Awards, had a very successful and noteworthy night. He performed a heartwarming tribute to his mother, Donda West, who passed away this past November while under a plastic surgeon’s knife. Kanye’s love and appreciation for his mother was evident in his voice and overall demeanor.

Kanye West, according to Rolling Stone, led the pack with eight nominations. He walked away with:

No longer and up and coming artist, Kanye West is here to make a stamp on the rap and r&b genre forever. And fear not, he makes a point to tell us that in his acceptance speech for Best Rap Album. This is where my critiques, opinions and recommendations of his cockiness surface.

If I were Kanye’s publicist, I would promote Mr. West as an incredible “success-story” who was raised by a single mom in a run-down Chicago neighborhood.  This, in-fact, is true and already apparent in Kanye West’s boastful and prideful attitude. I was unable to find a video clip of one segment of his acceptance speech where he comments, “and for Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse , if you don’t get to get up here for Album of the Year, you deserve it just as much as me, I deserve it too.” Not only is this boastful, but it is belittling toward all of the other nominees. His attitude is distasteful, and unnecessary. In this respect, I would first tell Kanye that he needs to pipe it down a bit. I would inform him that he needs to be humble because humbleness is attractive to fans and onlookers. In the media and public spotlight, I would play on his mother’s tragic death, and express how Kanye is becoming the successful rapper that he is, all because of his mother’s support and his natural talent. This technique with media relations would be successful because it is human instinct to show value to family. Casting Kanye’s experience with his mother in the light of the media shows Kanye more as a real human being, and less as a celebrity. BUT, this tactic would work better if Mr. West did not have the ”up in your face, I am better than you” attitude.

Its no secret that Hollywood stars are having trouble. Trouble staying out of rehab, that is. Kirsten Dunst, Spider-Man’s beloved, entered Cirque Rehab Treatment Center in Utah this week. A source from www.People.com quoted, “ People were pushing her to go in there but there was no intervention… She has been partying hard for a while and I’m sure the Heath Ledger thing put people over the edge.”

As a frequent party-goer in the L.A. scene, it is no surprise that Dunst is feeling the need to seek professional assistance. According to People, her party antics, although not to the extent of Lindsey Lohan or Britney Spears, may have caused her to miss her own Glamour magazine party. Kirsten is joined at the Rehab Center by Eva Mendes, another admired female actress, who seeks to “proactively attend to some personal issues.”

As we all know, checking into rehab isn’t the optimum career-booster, but since so many celebrities are doing it, it isn’t a career-ender, either. As Kirsten’s publicist I would take this opportunity to shed light on the situation by forecasting that she is “getting help” and that she should be praised for this. Dunst is seeing her faults, and is taking measures in the public light to help better her lifestyle and herself.  This public acceptance will help her fans sympathize with her, instead of judge her. This fan base is important with her upcoming movie How to Lose Friends and Alienate People  which is scheduled for release on October 3, 2008 according to www.imdb.com.  

I would also make sure that Kirsten made serious improvements in rehab before exposing her back to life in L.A. This is not only imperative for preparation to film her upcoming movie, but for her reputation as a credible actress for producers and casting agents. Hopefully All Good Things, which is set to start taping in April 2008, will show a clean and redeemed Kirsten Dunst.