Whoever said "there is no such thing as bad PR" was absolutely, 100% wrong. Of course there is. Just ask Prince Andrew. Or Volkswagen. To name just two.
Focusing on VW for a moment, the car manufacturing giant is in the midst of the biggest class action of its kind in the UK, as it's accused of fitting 1.2 million cars with an emissions defeat device. Globally, the ‘dieselgate’ scandal has already cost VW £26.6bn. And that is just settlements and compensation! I doubt VW will want to elaborate on how the scandal has affected sales.
Staying with the motoring theme, one man currently (perpetually?) determined to prove the statement "no such thing as bad PR" is Jeremy Clarkson. The former Top Gear turned Grand Tour presenter will seemingly say anything for headlines when a new season is due to air. With latest special - The Grand Tour presents: Seamen - set for release on Amazon Prime, Clarkson's latest outburst was aimed 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg, who he called "a stupid idiot" and "weird Swede" at a round table interview.
So is there really "no such thing as bad PR"? I stand by the first line of the blog. Even Jeremy Clarkson must draw a line... somewhere... off in the horizon. For most individuals and organisations, however, avoiding negative PR is advisable. And should negative PR be unavoidable (as VW is currently experiencing) ensuring it is managed and monitored correctly is absolutely essential.