The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson The Reputation Cliff: Why Some Celebrities Never Recover: Featuring the Sean Combs Trial and My NBC News Interview
This episode examines the sharp edge of celebrity scandal and why some reputations teeter over the cliff while others, against the odds, manage a comeback. With Sean Combs (Diddy) serving as the case study, this episode reveals PR moves public figure make when they are close to the edge of the “reputation cliff.”
Comparing a trio of notorious comebacks and collapses—Robert Downey Jr., Tiger Woods, Ellen DeGeneres—the episode shares how two made it through the crisis while one fell victim to it.
In this episode:
- The three signals a brand or person is beyond repair
- Why apologies and silence aren’t equal
- The harsh truth about when it's too little, too late.
Sources:
- How allegations can impact Combs' Reputation, NBC News, May 14, 2025
- Brands! Take a Stand! But Do So With Caution, You.Gov, Deepa Bhatia - December 18th, 2018
- Poll: Tiger Woods Hits a Record Low, NY Post, 2009
If you work in strategy or communication, join Molly on December 17 at 12 PM ET for a 60-minute live media training that breaks down a crisis in real time. RFK Jr is being hit from two sides at once. Now Olivia Nuzzi’s memoir is out, weeks after Tatiana Schlossberg’s essay landed a punch. We'll walk through the headlines, the data, the sentiment, press coverage, then map out what a competent response would actually look like. Click here to attend.
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