Welcome to If I Did it, the show where we handle PR kerfluffles from the world of MMA and beyond. This week we look at Paige Vanzant’s self-directed Reebok ad, a problematic Raiders draft pick and the ill-fated Fyre Festival.
Alexei Auld is back with a brand new book available 7 Secret Sources of Inspiration: A Snappy Guide for Creative Procrastinators to grill special guest John S. Nash and myself with some PR stumpers from the world of combat sports.
For the audio only version check us out on SoundCloud and be sure to subscribe to MMA NATION on iTunes and subscribe to MMA Nation on YouTube so you’ll never miss an episode. This week’s kerfuffles include:
You’re Paige Van Zant. Your attempt to sexily promote Reebok, rolling around on the rug, feeling yourself, was dissed and dismissed by your fellow fighters and fans. So you replaced it with a toned down version. Explain your PR change of heart.
You’re WME-IMG. A week after putting the UFC on blast, Raging Al Iaquinta has declared himself as the new UFC President and issued inflammatory tweets to fighters, UFC President Dana White, and Reebok. Are you having a laugh or planning a retaliatory strike?
You’re Carmelo Anthony. According to TMZ Sports, you’re pulling out all the stops to fix your marriage after rumors that you got a stripper pregnant broke it. What is the best PR course to take, live and in public, if you will to once again, be your baby’s Bull of the Woods?
You’re Lonzo Ball. Multiple sports apparel companies are balking on your demand to “partner” with your Big Baller Brand instead of offering a standard endorsement deal. What PR moves do you make to save face?
You’re the Oakland Raiders. You defended drafting rape suspect Gareon Conley in last week’s NFL Draft based on your research. With confusing reports made by his attorney surfacing days later, what additional efforts are you making to protect the shield and your brand?
You’re ESPN. In wake of your firing over one-hundred on and off air employees, fingers are being pointed at politics, Stephen A. Smith, and your major sports deals. What is the best PR course of action for your brand?
You’re a Fyre Festival organizer. Your luxury concert festival is the subject twitter frenzy, outrage , and a one hundred million dollar lawsuit which claims it “was nothing more than a get-rich quick scam from the beginning”. What are your PR options to salvage your reputation from an event that promised Coachella but turned out to be the Hunger Games?
TEACHABLE MOMENT: You’re President Donald J. Trump. What have you learned from your first 100 days in office that future presidents can apply to theirs. And what adjustments, if any, do you plan to make?
KID NATE’S HEEL TURN
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“We’ll be back next week with another installment of If I Did It and we don’t know what we’ll be talking about yet because the PR mistakes have yet to be made.”