The odd time, in between watching Kevin McCloud and his Grand Designs and the News, I sneak a peek at Keeping up with the Kardashians just to see what ridiculous subject they are talking about.
The way they seem to leave their whole life open to the public I find often crude, staged and so far from any sense of reality I know or would like to know!
The car crash show is about a blended family with Kris Jenner (The Momanager), her adult children from her first marriage, her (now former) husband, Olympian and great American hero Bruce Jenner, with his kids from his second marriage (the kids from his first marriage had the sense not to get involved with the show) and into the mix Kris and Bruce’s own two young daughters, who have grown up with cameras on them 24 seven.
It’s total drivel and I find it so fake – and just when us voyeurs thought it couldn’t get any more off the wall, Bruce, the all American hero, announced to the world (via TV of course) that from now on he was a she; Bruce was now Caitlyn and proud to come out of the closet!
Any decent publicist worth their salt would have predicted the death of the programme, with people turning away in their droves from this far fetched, totally manufactured story line.
But you know what…..I think the whole family have handled it (OK there were a few fake tears from the former Mrs Jenner – Kris) with great compassion, honesty and openness. Most celebrities would have hidden away and licked their wounds, far from the public they once courted. That’s what I expected.
Not the Kardashians and Jenners!
Coming up trumps is Kim Kardashian and Caitlyn’s youngest girls Kylie and Kendall. Kim, who got the whole Kardashian merry-go-round going with her infamous sex tape is coming across as supportive, understanding and so articulate and honest. I’m seriously impressed and I never, ever thought I would say that about a Kardashian!
The two youngest girls, still in their teens and living in such a high beam spotlight, obviously are having more trouble with it, but they are communicating in such a dignified way on TV and on their social media pages and it’s clear that they remain proud of their dad.
And there is a lot to be proud of. Bruce/Caitlyn is out there telling her story with integrity and soul. She is putting her hands up to the past failings as a father and a husband and she has sought and is finding redemption through her coming out. The relief is all over her much surgically manipulated face.
Last night America showed its acceptance by awarding her the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs, an award presented annually to individuals, usually high profile sporting personalities, whose contributions to society transcend sports. The respected reporter Diane Sawyer, the last person to interview Bruce as he announced his transition to Caitlyn was was in the crowd, cheering Caitlyn on; her presence at the Awards spoke volumes, supporting Caitlyn and her actions.
But the big thing for me was the presence of all of Caitlyn’s children, step children and his 88 year old mother, up front and centre supporting her. Caitlyn will be an example to other people who are thinking of making a difficult transition – and her family I have to say I now kinda respect a little!
It just makes me think of the odd client we have, who hesitate about telling their own story – nothing in anyway intrusive like the Kardashians, just their business story.
They really need to jump over the fear hurdle and just go for it. They have nothing to fear if they are honest and communicate with soul and integrity. As long as this can be demonstrated people will want to connect with them and their businesses. That is what PR is for – It helps clients to tell the story of their business and allows them to connect with people.
Don’t shy away from any opportunity that could benefit your business.
Don’t think – what if; I shouldn’t; what would my peers think? Because if you don’t take up the opportunities to tell your own unique story, you can be sure that your competitors are talking to us or agencies like us (but obviously not as great as us!) without that fear of telling their story.
Be brave, be honest, have soul and command your own airwaves – and if you need some help with that, you know where we are …
Deirdre Waldron is the founding partner of Fuzion
Fuzion are a Marketing, PR and Graphic Design firm with offices in Dublin and Cork, Ireland
