Ghosts of Goof-ups Past

Screw up once, shame on who? Screw up twice, shame on you.

Never any shortage of problems that threaten reputations. Nor any end in sight for the drama that goes with them.

Some are foisted upon people by events outside their control: Lawsuits by unhappy employees. Disputes with business partners and competitors. Scurrilous allegations published by equally scurrilous tabloid and celebrity-focused “news” outlets — online, on air, and in print.

Other times (too many, actually) they are of one’s own making. A bad case of foot-in-mouth. Stealing just a little because it seems harmless, then escalating to serious money. Believing shenanigans won’t be noticed, but inevitably they are.

2015 had its share. Here are some of the most memorable.

Volkswagen & Takata were caught lying and cheating. For one, it’s a serious black eye that tarnishes a reputation for quality and credibility. For the other, the ramifications raised questions about its survival.
Brian Williams & Rachel Dolezal, played fast and loose with facts even though the truth was easily verifiable. Williams famously “conflated” experiences about the Iraq War and the hurricane in New Orleans. Dolezal engaged in personal racial revisionism.
Hillary Clinton & Tom Brady sought to hide their digital footprints amid allegations of wrongdoing in emailgate and deflategate. Clinton ordered her email server wiped clean, and Brady had his assistant smash his cell phone that he used to send text messages.
S. Office of Personnel Management & Ashley Madison, which suffered network and cyber security breaches. OPM was huge (records of 21.5 million people were exposed). Ashley Madison attracted outsize attention because of the confidential nature of its business — arranging extra-marital affairs.

Will we get a respite in 2016? Unlikely.

Some people never learn. They may not make the same mistake but will find new ways to get into trouble.

Even if those who suffered in 2015 keep their noses clean in the future, there will be others waiting to take their place.

For a deeper glimpse into our world, see our book on Amazon, A Lawyer’s Guide to Crisis PR: Protecting Your Clients In & From the Media.

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You can reach Roger Gillott and Eden Gillott directly at 310-396-8696.

Gillott Communications is a Los Angeles-based public relations firm that specializes in high-stakes Crisis & Reputation Management with more than 50 years of expertise in strategic communications, corporate public relations, and working with the media.