Mel Gibson, Public Relations and Ethics

Public relations professionals do not have any legal or ethical obligation to represent people who do great harm to society.

Take Mel Gibson, whose publicist Alan Nierob of Rogers & Cowan/Weber Shandwick personally -- and repeatedly -- tried to assure me that Mr. Gibson was NOT anti-Semitic just before the release of his "Passion of the Christ" film. But I wasn't convinced and continued to email Mr. Nierob about my concerns that he was being used by Mr. Gibson as a tool to spread anti-Semitism.

Some two years after Mr. Nierob helped Mr. Gibson promote his "Passion" movie that most Jews found offensive, we learn that Mr. Gibson went on an anti-Semitic tirade this past weekend in Malibu after his arrest -- allegedly for driving under the influence. It's interesting that Mr. Nierob and his firm had no problem severing their business relationship with Jennifer Lopez, reportedly because she was a difficult client.  Our job as PR people is to advocate for our clients but does that mean we should promote hate and violence?

When clients promote hatred of any group of people, it is indefensible. Therefore, every public relations professional should review his or her own values about what is right and what is wrong before deciding to represent a client. No public relations firm should request or force any employee to represent a client who is a bigot. And no PR company can say it is promoting a diverse workplace on the one hand, and at the same time do the dirty work of hate-mongers like Mr. Gibson.

Mr. Nierob and his firm should, finally, say no to Mr. Gibson's money and send an unequivocal message that promoting bigotry has no place in PR...or anywhere else in our democracy. 

Comments

[elynn]

The following was sent to M Gibsons PR Firm:

The public as you well know votes with its dollars - not only will I never see another new movie by or with this boorish man but I will choose not to watch anything which he is in..

I will also be using my various websites to promote this opinion - Gibson needs to move back to Australia sooner rather than later.

This is one of the most disgusting things I have seen - especially in light of current world events.

The pathetic excuse of an apology is as worthless as his bigoted anti-Semitic mindset and foul mouth.

Instead of having the courage to speak from his heart his carefully crafted PR statement revealed more about him and his lack of character than his actual anti-Semitic statements.