Dear Chris Brown,
You are in desperate need of Media Training AND a reality check.
Fact: You pleaded guilty to assaulting Rihanna in February 2009.
Fact: A restraining order was issued against you. For two years you were not allowed to get within 50 yards of Rihanna. (The restraining order is still in effect, but it was recently downgraded to allow Chris Brown to have contact with Rihanna as long as he does not harass, annoy or molest her.)
Fact: The court ordered you to receive counseling and perform community service.
Reality: You are going to be asked about this every time you’re interviewed by the media.
Today, you were thrown easy, softball questions about this incident by Robin Roberts of Good Morning America. And instead of saying: I made a mistake. I’ve received counseling; I’m a different person. In fact, the judge in my case recently praised me for the strides I’ve made. You were visibly defensive and chastised Robin for asking you about this i.e. You were only there to talk about YOUR ALBUM!
All of this leads me to believe that either you have not been media trained or you haven’t worked with someone who knew how to get through to you.
Basics of Media Training
Rule # 1 Never get angry at a reporter or interviewer!
Rule #2 Body language and facial expressions are important! You can’t look ticked off or angry if you want to get past this incident, especially since you’re trying to make people forget you pleaded guilty to assaulting Rihanna.
Rule#3 Wait until you leave the studio to vent your frustration. (TMZ is reporting that Chris Brown was screaming and yelling at GMA staffers after his interview. They are also reporting that he threw a chair at a window at ABC.)
I have often said, you don’t actually have to be a changed person to change the public’s opinion of you. But you do have to act like a changed person. And above all else, you need to know how to play the game.
Chris, I don’t know if you don’t understand the game or if you think the rules don’t apply to you. But there are no free passes in the media game. If you want free advertising on a network morning news program then you’re going to have to answer questions about Rihanna.
If you were smart, you’d have gotten a really great media trainer to work with you and/or a psychologist, who specializes in anger management. It would have been money well spent.
photo credit: Express Monorail via photopin cc
